in  UfiRSC.  DEPT.  JJ 


TH 


FAR  ME 


AND 


FORAGE  PLANTS, 


BY  D.  L.  PHARES. 


STARKVILLE,    MISS 

J.  C.  HILL.  PRINTER. 

1881 


,4  HEADQUARTERS 

FOR    THE 

JOHNSON  GRASS  SEED! 

(SORGHUM    HALAPENSE.) 

This  Grass  has  no  equal  for  hay  or 
pasturage.  Belonging  to  the  Sorghum 
family,  it  has  an  abundance  of  leaves,  a 
rapid  grower — perennial,  sweet  and  nu- 
JOHNSON  GRASS.  tritious.  It  stands  the  drought  hotter 
(SORGHUM  HALAPENSE.)  than  any  oi}\GY  grass,  also  the  freezes  of 
The  above  is  from  a  photo- winter.  In  fact,  wherever  corn  will 

graph   of  twenty-live  stalks,  ,  .  -,  it        r-\          i 

gathered  May  20th,  1881.   For  grow  this  grass  does   well.     One    bushel 

hayaOr    grazing    i,    has    no  t()     the    ^.^     Qn    any     ffOO(]    Jjm(^     ^ 

richer  the  better  the  crop),  will  yield  from  one  to  two  and  one- 
half  tons  to  the  acre  at  each  cutting,  andean  he  cut  from  3  to  4 
times  a  season.  It  does  not  exhaust  land,  but  improves  it. 
Well  cured  hay  made  from  tnis  grass  keeps  stock  in  good  con- 
dition when  not  at  work  Living  on  the  original  Johnson  grass 
farm,  where  this  seed  has  been  planted  for  over  thirty  years,  I 
am  enabled  to  get  the  pure  seed,  and  will  furnish  it  in  quanti- 
ties to  suit  purchasers;  well  cleaned  and  put  up  in  good  mer- 
chantable order.  This  is  the  same  grass  sometimes  called  Guin- 
ea grass,  Means  grass,  Egyptian  grass,  Cuba  grass  and  Green 
Valley  grass;  reference  to  which  can  be  found  in  the  March  no. 
of  American  Agriculturist  for  1881.  Also  in  Howard's  Man- 
ual, page  16  ;  also  in  this  work.  Where  it  is  possible  sow  the 
seed  in  the  fall,  as  it  will  get  sufficient  growth  to  furnish  two 
good  crops  the  following  year.  Sowing  in  the  spring  will  do, 
but  the  crop  will  not  be  as  heavy  the  first  summer,  I  also  have 
the  hay  for  sale  made  of  this  grass  which  I  furnish  in  car  load 
lots  of  8  to  10  tons  at  the  market  price. 

Send  stamp  for     descriptive    circular  which  contains  prices, 
and  directions  for  Cultivation.  HERBERT  POST, 

Marion  Junction,  Dallas  Co,,  Ala. 


THE  STARKVILLE  LEDGER, 

A  Weekly  Newspaper,  published  every  Wednesday,   at  Stark 
ville,  Miss.  BY  J.  C.  HILL. 

Subscription  :     $2  a  year. 

All    styles  of  Job  Printing  and   Book  Work  executed    in 
the  most  artistic  manner,   and  at  short  notice. 


AND 


OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS, 


FOR  THE 


SOUTHERN  UNITED  STATES. 


BY  D.  L.  PHARES,  A.  M.,  M.  D., 


Professor  of  Biology,  A.  &  M.  College  of  Mississippi,   Sanitary 
Commissioner  for  the  State  at  large  of  Mississippi ; 
Member  of  A.  P.  H.  A.,  and  many 
other  Scientific  Bodies. 


Author  of  "Synopsis  of  Medical  Flora  of  Mississippi/7 
and  of  many  papers   on  Medicine,  Natural  His- 
tory,    Veterinary    Science,    Education, 
Improved  Farming,  Etc.  Etc.  Etc. 


STARKVILLE,  MISS. 

J.  C.  HILL.  PRINTER. 

1881 


COPY   RIGHT, 

August,  3rd.,  1881,  in  Office  of  Librarian  of  Congress. 
D.  L.  PHARLS. 


•»    i  J» 

j  V'  ': 


PREFACE. 


This  little  manual  has  been  prepared  at  the  urgent  solicita- 
tion of  many  planters  for  many  years.  It  is  written  in  as  plain, 
simple  language  as  could  well  be  done ;  so  that  any  intelligent 
reader  may  easily  understand  it  all.  Full  descriptions  in  plain 
English  of  all  the  plants  mentioned  would  have  much  more  than 
doubled  the  size  of  the  book  ;  technical  descriptions  would  be 
hard  to  comprehend  ,  and  hence  it  was  deemed  best  to  give  first 
the  botanical  name  of  each  plant,  so  that  any  desiring,  may 
consult  such  books  as  Gray's,  Chapman's,  or  Wood's  recent 
works  for  fuller  descriptions.  The  more  important  distinctive 
characters  are  given  Avhenever  deemed  necessary. 

Much  more  time  and  labor  have  been  expended  in  collecting 
and  correcting  synonyms,  and  carefully  identifying  plants  by 
their  popular  or  common  names,  than  in  all  the  other  portions 
of  the  work  together. 

A  number  of  plants  new  or  unknown  to  most  farmers  have 
been  described  at  some  length,  especially  when  giving  promise 
of  much  agricultural  value.  Many  others  of  little  worth  are 
mentioned,  that  farmers  may  not  waste  time  and  money  in  ex- 
perimenting with  them.  Many  that  are  very  valuable  are  too 
briefly  treated  because  the  space  assigned  me  would  not  admit 
of  fuller  detail.  And  for  the  same  reason  many  important  top- 
ics have  not  been  even  mentioned. 

My  own  experiences  and  practises  have  been  given  quite  free- 
ly as  requested  by  friends. 

The  work  has  been  prepared  in  the  intervals  of  other  absorb- 
ing labors,  with  an  average  of  not  less  than  twenty  interrup- 
tions for  every  page.  It  has  been  printed  from  the  original 
rough  draft  as  it  has  been  impossible  to  find  time  to  copy  or  re- 
vise it.  For  the  same  reason  a  few  typographical  errors  may 
have  escaped  uncorrected.  In  spite  of  all  efforts  to  the  contra- 
ry, the  work  contains  over  50  per  cent  more  than  the  limits 
assigned  me  would  have  permitted. 

Should  health  and  leisure  permit,  I  desire  at  some  future 
time  to  prepare  a  large  illustrated  work  on  all  the  Forage 
Plants  of  the  Southern  United  States. 

D.  L.  PHASES. 
A.  &  M.  COLLEGE  OF  Miss. ) 
September,  1st.,  1881.  / 

270397 


ERRATUM. 

Page  7,  line  5  from  top,  read  pecks  instead  of  pounds. 


Farmer's  Bool  of  tees  and  Other  Forap  Plants, 

CHAPTER  I. 
The  Pulse  Family. 


From  the  oldest  records,  it  is  evident  that  members  of  this 
family  have  been  used  as  food  for  man  and  beast  from  the  in- 
fancy of  the  human  race.  And  for  many  ages  other  members 
have  furnished  timber,  fuel,  fibrous  materials,  dyes,  medicines 
and  many  other  products  employed  in  economic  uses.  This  fam- 
ily contains  about  550  genera  and  7000  species,  of  which  our 
country  produces  more  than  60  genera  and  over  200  species. 
In  the  limited  space  allowed  in  this  work  only  a  few  of  these 
can  be  mentioned. 

1.  LOTUS  TRIBE. 

Blossoms  butterfly-like,  pods  not  jointed,  stems  not  climbing, 
cotyledons  leafy. 

LUPINUS.     Lupine. 

Of  this  genus,  several  species  are  found  native;  the  more  com- 
mon being  the  perennial,  diffuse  and  vittous;  all  with  generally 
purplish  flowers,  rarely  white,  and  woolly  pods.  While  afford- 
ing some  food  and  worthy  of  protection,  they  are  not  of  'suffi- 
cient value  to  justify  cultivation. 

CEOTALAEIA.     Rattle-box. 

We  have  three  native  species  of  this  genus,  all  with  yellow 
blossoms  and  dark  purple  inflated  pods.  They  are  low  plants, 
growing  011  sandy  pine  barrens  and  other  poor  soils,  affording 
considerable  food  for  live  stock,  where  better  plants  do  not 
thrive.  They  are  sometimes  cultivated,  only  however,  for 
amusement  of  children. 


2    »  '  -  ,  ^.  ^.  s0j,0F>J^E^&,BQOK   OF    Gil  ASHES 

MEDICAGO.     Medick . 

1.  M.  SATIVA.  Modick,  Lucerne,  Spanish  Trefoil,  French  Lu- 
zernc  and  Alfalfa.  This  plant  is  very  pretty  and  very  valuable. 
When  first  brought  from  South  America  to  the  United  States,  it 
was  supposed  to  be  a  new  plant  and  called  Brazilian  clover.  A 
few  years  ago,  it  was  taken  from  western  South  America  to  Cal- 
ifornia, and  thence  to  the  older  States  as  a  new  plant  with  its 
Spanish  name  Alfalfa.  But  it  was  known  in  the  earlier  ages  of 
the  world.  By  the  Greeks  (about  500  years  "before  Christ)  it 
was  brought  from  Medea  and  hence  its  generic  and  one  of  its 
common  names.  It  has  been  known  ever  since  in  most  civil- 
ized States,  and  often  mentioned  by  Roman  agricultural  writers 
and  by  others  from  their  time  to  this.  It  is  still  grown  in  Per- 
sia, where,  as  in  Peru,  it  is  cut  throuhout  the  year.  It  had  been 
cultivated  in  the  southern  States  50  years  before  received  from 
California. 

It  is  ready  for  use  early.  Last  year  I  had  it  two  feet  high, 
the  middle  of  February ;  this  year  the  same  height  a  month  la- 
ter, all  the  forage  plants  being  late.  It  should  be  planted  in 
drills  12  or  15  inches  apart,  and  I  think  at  the  very  least,  ten 
pounds  of  seed  per  acre.  The  ground  should  be  rich,  dry  and 
mellow.  The  first  year  it  should  be  cultivated  to  keep  down 
grass  and  weeds.  The  mowing  should  be  made  when  the  first 
blooms  appear,  if  for  hay.  It  makes  a  good  hay,  relished  by 
stock.  It  is  better  however,  for  soiling  or  feeding  green,  or 
rather  wilted.  For  this  purpose  the  cutting  should  begin  before 
the  plant  shows  any  blooms ;  otherwise,  before  going  over  all  the 
lot,  some  stems  become  too  hard  to  digest  promptly.  By  the 
time  the  last  is  cut,  the  first  is  again  ready  for  the  sickle.  And 
thus  it  may  be  cut  four  to  six  times  a  year.  The  amount  of  rich 
forage  it  may  produce  is  probably  greater  than  from  any  other 
plant.  It  is  very  rich  in  milk  and  butter  principles,  and  spe- 
cially suited  for  feeding  milk  cows.  For  this  purpose  cut  after 
noon  and  feed  next  day. 

Stock  must  not  have  access  to  the  growing  lucerne ;  for  by 
eating  out  the  crowns,  the  plants  are  killed.  If  protected  and 
manured  a  little  every  few  years,  it  will  continue  a  vigorous 
growth  for  a  life-time.  Some  plots  of  it  are  now  in  fine  condi- 
tion, that  are  known  to  have  been  growing  for  over  thirty -five 
years,  without  any  marks  of  decay. 

Where  the  sub-soil  can  be  penetrated  and  is  not  too  moist,  lu- 
cerne sends  its  roots  down  10,  15,  even  20  feet  deep.  Hence 
it  is  less  affected  by  drought  than  any  other  plant.  This  should 
render  it  specially  valuable  in  the  Mission  Valley  and  some  oth- 
er portions  of  Texas,  and  perhaps  on  the  skirts  of  our  western 
desert. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          3 

It  may  succeed  well,  sown  broadcast  on  well  cultivated  lands 
free  from  seeds  of  grasses  and  weeds.  In  this  case  full  twenty 
pounds  of  seed  per  acre  should  be  used  so  as  to  cover  the  ground 
early  and  thus  suppress  weeds.  It  may  afford  good  mowings 
the  first  year ;  and  these  mowings  prevent  maturing  of  seeds 
of  noxious  weeds. 

Every  owner  of  a  horse  or  milk  cow  should  have  at  least  one 
acre  of  lucerne.  These  animals,  sheep,  swine  and  poultry  rec- 
ognize the  value  of  lucerne  at  the  first  glance. 

2.  M.  LUPULINA    is    naturalized    with  us,  but  is  of  too  little 
value   to  require   special    notice.     It  is  the  Nonesuch,  or  Black 
Medick. 

3.  M.  MACULATA,  spotted  Medick,  is  a  valuable  plant.  It  was 
brought  from  Chili  to  California,  and  thence  to  the  States   under 
the  names  of  California  Clover,  Yellow  Clover  and  Burr  Clover. 
Many  mistook  it  for  lucerne  and  still  so  call  it.     This  has  only 
two  or   three  ydlow  blossoms  in    each  cluster,  while  lucerne  has 
many  blue  blossoms    in   an   elongated   head.     From  the  melilots 
and  clovers  proper,  the  medicks  are  readily  distinguished  by  the 
pods  or  legumes  being  spirally    twisted    or  coiled.     That  of  M. 
saliva  is  loosely  coiled  about  twice  so  as  to  somewhat  resemble  a 
rams  horn.     That  of  the  M.  malculala  is  very  compactly  coiled, 
so  as  to  present  the  appearance  of  a  solid  oblate  spheroid,  thick- 
ly covered  with  curved  prickles.     But  seize  the   prickles  at  the 
poles  and  draw  gently ;  the  spheroidal  burr  is  changed  to  a  spiral 
flat  legume  with  two  rows  of  hooked  prickles  on  its  thicker  edge. 

I  have  grown  this  plant  about  thirty-five  years.  It  furnishes 
good  grazing  from  February  till  April  or  May ;  a  small  lot  ot 
ground  feeding  a  large  number  of  cattle,  sheep,  etc.  Many 
think  it  the  best  thing  possible  for  grazing  and  hay.  It  is  the 
opinion  of  some,  that  animals  naturally  prefer  it  to  other  green 
plants.  This  does  not  accord  with  my  experience.  They  do 
not  incline  to  eat  it  at  first ;  but  it  is  easy  to  teach  them,  and  they 
acquire  a  great  fondness  for  it.  But  all  the  grass  eating  animals 
including  geese,  etc.,  know  and  eat  lucerne  greedily  at  first  sight. 
Horses  that  refuse  the  spotted  Medick  when  green,  eat  it  readi- 
ly when  wilted  or  dried.  The  last  lot  I  sowed  was  in  1859  or 
1860.  Every  year,  many  persons  passing  the  public  roads  near 
this  lot  stop  and  admire  the  luxuriant  growth.  For  a  number 
of  years  my  live  stock  had  free  access  to  it  from  December  to 
March,  or  later,  with  much  profit.  On  removing  them  it  shot 
up  and  spread  out  rapidly  in  April  and  May,  in  the  latter  month 
maturing  an  immense  quantity  of  seed  and  then  dicing.  In  June 
the  crab  grass  (panicum  sanguinale)  sprang  up  and  in  August, 
this  grass  while  in  bloom  was  mowed.  In  October,  I  had  a  sec- 
ond lighter  mowing.  In  a  few  weeks,  the  medick  would  be  up 
and  in  full  possession  of  the  ground  till  next  June.  I  never 


4  F  A  KM  ER  '&>   B( )( >K  OF  G K  A  88  ES 

mowed  the  medick,  but  to  a  very  limited  extent.  Thus  for  years, 
I  had  the  latter  for  grazing  in  winter  and  spring,  and  in  August 
and  October  took  off  two  and  a  half  or  three  tons  of  crab  grass 
hay  per  acre.  The  hay  is  better  than  we  usually  get  from  the 
West. 

After  a  luxuriant  crop  of  medick,  the  ground  is  very  loose  and 
in  condition  to  produce  a  good  crop  of  anything  else.  One  may 
cultivate  land  every  year  and  make  better  crops  of  corn  and  cot- 
ton than  on  ground  not  occupied  by  the  mcdick,  and  still  have 
the  benefit  of  the  latter  for  winter  and  early  spring  grazing.  In 
order  to  do  this,  in  bedding  for  cotton  and  corn,  leave  between 
the  rows  a  space  four,  six,  or  more  inches  wide  unbroken  till  the 
latter  part  of  May,  and  you  will  have  plenty  of  seed  on  the  ground 
to  give  you  a  good  stand,  the  next  fall.  Even  without  this  pre- 
caution, the  lot  which  I  have  mentioned  has  maintained  a  heavy 
crop  of  the  medick  and  for  two  years  made  heavy  crops  of  cotton, 
the  latter  growing  to  very  large  size  and  fruiting  heavily.  I  had 
rented  it  and  the  lessee  broke  it  up  completely,  leaving  no  space 
to  mature  Medick  seed.  This  year  the  plowing  of  this  lot  was 
not  begun  till  May,  and  the  ground  was  so  heavily  covered  with 
the  plant  that  the  heaviest  two-horse  plow  could  not  touch  the 
ground  till  the  medick  was  cut  up  with  a  Nishwitz  harrow. 
Those  who  have  not  examined  it  can  form  no  idea  of  the  dense 
heavy  growth.  Yet  if  left  alone,  it  has  nearly  all  disappeared  by 
July,  except  an  inch  or  tw^o  in  depth  of  the  legumes  covering  the 
ground.  A  single  root  will  often  throw  out  stems  radiating  all 
around  and  branching  so  much  as  to  cover  a  space  of  eighty 
square  feet.  These,  though  slender,  overlapping  in  every  direc- 
tion and  piled  two  feet  deep  in  May  and  J  une  render  it  next  to 
impossible  to  plow  the  ground.  But  by  earlier  plowing  or  wait- 
ing till  July  there  is  none  of  this  trouble.  The  plant  may  be 
recognized  at  an  early  stage  of  growth  by  the  leaf,  which  is  com- 
posed of  three  inversely  cordate,  rather  large  leaflets,  each  hav- 
ing near  the  middle  a  dark  spot.  It  is  from  this  spot  that  the 
plant  receives  its  specific  and  one  trivial  name. 

4.  M.  DENTICULATA.     This  differs  from  the  preceding  in  the 
sharp  edged  pod  being  less  compactly  coiled  and  having  shorter 
prickles.     It  is  often  confounded  with  the  preceding. 

5.  M.  SCUTELLATA,  Bee-hive,  Snail  Medick.     This  is  culti- 
vated only  for  its  curious,  large  pods,  which  are  coiled  like  a  snail 
shell  with  many  turns. 

As  we  have  no  process  for  removing  the  seeds  from  the  pods 
of  spotted  medick,  it  is  necessary  to  sow  the  burr-like  pods,  say 
half  a  bushel  per  acre.  The  planting  should  be  done  early,  in 
July  or  August,  in  order  that  the  tough  pods  may  have  time  to 
rot  and  release  the  seeds.  If  covered  deep,  the  seed  will  not  ger- 
minate, but  remain  in  the  ground  for  years,  to  grow  when 
brought  to  the  surface. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  5 

MELILOTUS.     Sweet  Clover. 

Of  this  we  have  two  species  :  1.  M.  OFFICINALIS  and  M.  AL- 
BA, White  Melilot,  Tree  Clover,  Bokhara  Clover.  They  are 
cultivated  for  forage ;  but  oftener  in  the  flower  garden  for  come- 
liness and  fragrance.  They  have  run  wild  in  many  places,  thus 
adding  to  the  value  of  native  pasturage. 

T  RIFOLIUM.     Clover. 

1.  T.  PRATENSE.  Red  Clover.  In  a  large  portion  of  Missis- 
sippi, Louisiana  and  other  southern  States,  this  plant  grows  as 
promptly  and  as  luxuriantly,  and  yields  as  heavy  crops  of  forage, 
as  in  any  other  portions  of  America.  In  truth,  from  a  compar- 
ison of  the  clover  crops  of  Mississippi  wifrh  those  I  have  seen  and 
had  reports  of  in  all  the  States  further  north,  it  is  evident  that  in 
the  former  there  is  much  more  certainty  and  less  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining a  good  catch,  and  in  maintaining  a  good  stand ;  and  in 
consequence  of  this,  in  connection  with  climatic  influences,  a 
larger  .yield  is  annually  realized,  and  for  a  greater  number  of 
years,  if  desired. 

True  this  is  putting  it  pretty  strong ;  but  not  a  whit  stronger 
than,  I  believe,  the  facts  warrant.  I  have  secured  good  stands 
whether  the  seed  were  sown  in  September,  October,  November, 
December,  January  or  February ;  and  even  to  the  middle  of  March. 
That  growing  in  the  field  on  the  east  side  of  the  telegraph  lines, 
which  so  many  of  you  have  stopped  to  admire,  and  which 
Northern  and  Western  men  have  so  often  gone  in  to  examine 
closely  and  handled  to  be  certain  that  their  eyes  had  not  deceived 
them,  was  planted  five  years  ago.  Yet  the  hands  declare  the  crop 
of  this  year  is  as  heavy  or  heavier  than  that  of  any  former  year. 
By  special  request,  I  measured  a  part  of  this  field  two  years  ago, 
and  after  thoroughly  drying  the  clover  (dryer  than  I  make  it  for 
housing)  it  weighed  at  the  rate  of  nine  thousand  pounds  per  acre. 
But  others,  in  various  and  widely  distant  parts  of  the  State,  have 
done  equally  well ;  and  some  much  better,  I  am  happy  to  acknowl- 
edge. 

I  have  been  asked  many  times  what  fertilizers  I  applied.  All 
of  you  perhaps  have  seen  and  some  of  you  are  well  acquainted 
with  every  foot  of  this  field,  and  know  that  it  is  old,  that  the  sub- 
soil is  a  red  clay  many  feet  deep,  as  seen  by  the  cut  in  the  adjacent 
road,  and  that  there  is  but  little  surface  soil.  It  was  worn  out  and 
abandoned  in  1833,  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  it.  In  1840,  having 
located  near  by,  I  purchased  and  enclosed  it  for  pasture.  Thus  it 
was  used  for  years  and  very  much  improved.  Two  years  before 
sowing  the  clover,  I  bedded  for  cotton,  and  in  the  beds  before1 
sowing  the  cotton  seed,  on  one  portion,  I  applied  Bradley's  Fer- 


ft  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

tilizer ;  on  another  part  Sterne's  Superphosphate ;  on  another 
Dickson's  Compound  ;  and  on  another  in  the  first  furrow  stable 
manure,  upon  which  the  bed  was  made.  All  parts  made  a  good 
crop  of  cotton.  It  has  had  no  fertilizer  since.  The  next  year 
I  raised  corn  on  it  and  a  good  crop  of  weeds.  In  September  all 
the  live  stock  was  turned  on  it  for  a  month.  It  was  then  broken 
and  harrowed  several  times  and  seeded  with  clover  in  November 
and  January.  It  has  had  two  mowings  a  year,  and  more  or  less 
stock  on  it  every  winter.  Yet  it  is  what  you  have  seen.  I  have 
other  lots  of  clover  equally  good,  one  better. 

The  first  week  in  April,  1874,  a  passing  plow  cut  off  a  clover 
root.  Examining  it,  I  found  fifty-six  stems  from  20  to  25  inches 
long  growing  from  the  one  root.  It  was  just  beginning  to  bloom. 
This  some  of  you  have  seen  as  well  as  other  equally  interesting 
specimens.  Last  year  we  commenced  feeding  clover  early  in  A- 
pril;  this  year  nearly  a  month  later,  the  season  being  very  unfa- 
vorable for  early  growth.  All  kinds  of  farm  animals  eat  red  clo- 
ver very  greedily  whether  green,  or  drv.  I  need  not  tell  you  of 
its  value  for  all.  This  you  already  know. 

Varieties.  The  sapling  clover  is  a  very  large  coarse  variety,  and 
not  desirable.  The  medium  and  smaller,  I  think  really  but  one ; 
the  diiference  in  size  depending  on  the  soil  and  management.  The 
common  medium  variety  sometimes  grows  larger  than  I  like.  I 
have  no  doubt  I  could  make  it  produce  seven  tons  of  cured  hay 
per  acre.  But  it  would  be  coarse,  less  nutritious  and  require 
longer  to  cure  than  when  lighter,  AVhen  it  yields  enough  for 
three  tons  of  dry  hay  at  one  mowing,  it  cann'ot  be  cured  prompt- 
ly enough  to  make  the  choicest  hay,  unless  the  product  of  one 
aere  be  spread  over  much  more  ground  than  it  grows  on.  More 
can  be  cured  indeed  and  make  excellent  hav ;  but  not  the  best. 
Red  clover  improves  land  much  more  than  spotted  medick 
both  as  a  fertilizer  and  ameliorator.  Its  large  tap-root  in  favor- 
able situations  penetrates  five  to  ten  feet  deep. 

The  above  remarks  were  made  in  a  lecture  in  1875;  speci- 
mens being  in  the  hands  of  the  audience.  The  clover  was  suf- 
fered to  occupy  the  land  two  years  longer,  or  in  all  seven  years. 
1^0  fertilizer  was  at  any  time  applied  after  1869  as  above  stated 
for  cotton.  The  clover  was  equally  good  to  the  last.  But  pro- 
longed rains  and  want  of  time  prevented  more  than  one  mow- 
ing a  year  for  two  years ;  and  thus  many  weeds  had  time  to  ma- 
ture seeds  and  propagate  to  a  large  extent.  Two  mowings  a 
year  seem  sufficient  to  prevent  the  growth  of  noxious  weeds  a- 
mong  the  clover. 

After  mowing  in  1877,  the  ground  was  plowed  and  set  with 
sweet  potatoe  vines  in  the  summer  and  yielded  an  immense  crop 
without  manure.  When  the  potatoes  were  harvested  iu  autumn, 
the  field  was  seeded  with  red  rust  proof  oats,  a  small  quantity  of 
cotton  seed  being  scattered  and  plowed  in  with  the  oats.  The 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          .7 

next  spring  showed  the  largest  stems  and  heaviest  yield  of  oats  I 
have  ever  seen. 

Seed  per  acre.  Not  less  than  ten  pounds  should  be  used. 
This  may  do  very  well  when  orchard  grass  is  sown  with  it,  at  the 
rate  of  four  or  five  pounds  per  acre.  And  this  is  a  good  combina- 
tion, as  the  orchard  grass  is  ready  at  the  same  time  with  the  clo- 
ver for  the  mower,  and  it  assists  in  curing  the  clover  more  prompt- 
ly and  nicely,,  though  not  quite  so  nicely  cured  itself  in  the  mix- 
ture. When  clover  is  planted  alone,  I  prefer  to  use  twelve  or 
fifteen  pounds ;  or  one  bushel  (sixty  pounds)  for  four  acres,  or  at 
most' five.  By  using  plenty  of  seed  we  obtain  a  better  catch,  and 
the  .  increased  harvest  pays  many  times  over  the  additional  cost 
of  more  seed. 

Soil.  Any  good  soil  with  red  clay  subsoil  near  the  surface  is 
well  adapted  to  clover. 

2.  T.  ARVENSE.  Rabbit-foot  Clover,  Stone  Clover.  This 
species  is  small  and  almost  worthless.  The  calyx  of  this  and 
red  clover  remanis  erect  in  seed,  while  in  all  the  following  it  be- 
comes reflexed  or  turned  downward.  It  may  be  known  by  the 
corolla  being  of  flesh  color,  or  whitish  with  a  purple  spot,  and  al- 
most concealed  by  the  plumose  silky  calyx.  The  heads  are  very 
soft  silky-downy,  oblong  at  length  cylindrical. 

8.  T."  REPLEXUM.  Buffalo  Clover.  This  native  plant  grows 
a  foot  high  with  very  stout  ascending  pubescent  stems  and  large 
heads  of  rose-red  and  whitish  flowers.  It  is  a  valuable  plant  and 
cattle  are  fond  of  it.  The  large  succulent  stems  and  leaves  afford 
so  much  forage,  that  it  might  be  cultivated  profitably. 

4.  T.  REPEUS.  White  Clover.  This  universally  known  plant, 
though  perhaps  not  a  native,  grows  luxuriantly  and  spontaneous- 
ly on  nearly  all  deep,  red  clay  lands  and  furnishes  excellent  gra- 
zing in  many  parts  of  the  southern  States  from  January  on  for 
some  months,  sometimes  through  spring  and  early  summer.  The 
later  second  growth,  like  that  of  red  clover,  salivates  horses,  mules, 
and  sometimes  cows.  The  flow  of  saliva  is  often  enormous  and 
very  damaging  to  horses.  I  have  seen  but  one  bad  case  in  the 
cow.  White  Clover  yields  a  large  quantity  of  the  best  honey 
that  can  be  made.  It  is  however  not  reliable  for  this  use  from 
,the  fact  that  sometimes,  without  any  apparent  cause,  it  disap- 
pears almost  wholly  for  one  or  more  years,  and  then  suddenly 
again  covers  the  earth  with  a  most  luxuriant  and  nutritious 
growth.  I  have  often  had  much  trouble  on  account  of  its  per- 
sistent, luxuriant  growth  among  other  crops  where  I  did  not 
want  it. 

It  frequently  starts  well  into  rich  growth  earlier  than  the  red 
clover  and  though  soon  concealed  from  sight  by  the  latter,  both 
are  unavoidably  mowed  and  cured  together,  thus  giving  a  hay 
that  wrill  salivate. 


8  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

I  have  found  that  red  clover  hay  of  the  second  cutting,  kept 
a  year  or  more,  loses  the  property  of  salivating;  but  whether 
the  same  is  true  of  white  clover  I  have  not  learned.  In  nutri- 
tive value,  it  is  about  equal  to  red  clover;  as  a  fat  producer 
much  better. 

5.  T.  PROCUMBEUS.    Low  Hop  Clover.     This  plant  is  small, 
spreading,  downy  and  of  little  value. 

6.  T.  AGRARIUM.  Yellow  Hop  Clover.     This  is  a  little  lar- 
ger than  the  preceding,  but  not  very  valuable.     Both  have  yel- 
low blossoms. 

7.  T.  CAROL.INIANUM.  Carolina  Clover,  with  purplish  blooms^ 
is  procumbent,  small  and  ajFords  but  little  grazing. 

8.  T.  STOLONIFERUM.     Running    Buffalo    Clover.     This    is 
much  like,  and  may  be  a  variety  of  number  3  above,  but  differ- 
ing by  sending  out  runners. 

9.  T.  MEDIUM.  Zigzag  Clover.     This  is  only  a  variety  prob- 
ably of  the  red  clover,  from  which  it  differs  in  having    spotless, 
more  oblong,  entire  leaves  and  zigzag  stems. 

10.  T.  INCARNATUM.  Crimson   Clover.     An    annual,   matu- 
ring earlier  than  the  red  of  which  it  is  perhaps  a  variety. 

11.  T.  ERECTUM.  Sapling  Clover,  as   stated  on   a   preceding 
page  is  a  coarse,  erect  variety  of  the  red  clover,  later  maturing. 

12.  T.  HYBRIDUM.  Alsike  Clover.     This  Sweedish  species  is 
superior  to  red  clover  in  feeding  value,  furnishes  more  fat    and 
flesh  forming  materials  and  less  crude  fibre.     Its  yield  per   acre 
of  hay  however  is  less.     It  is  admirable  for  grazing.     It  is  slow- 
taking  possession  of   land,  but  is  perennial  and  does  well  with 
orchard  grass,    both  for  grazing  and  hay.     It  "is  quite    fragrant 
and  a  good  honey  plant.     My  personal  knowledge  of  it  is   too 
limited  to  estimate  properly  its  true  value  in  the  South. 

PSORA  LEA. 

8ix  or  more  species  are  native.  No  common  or  local  name  is  known 
to  me.  These  plants  furnish  considerable  forage  for  live  stock ; 
but  they  are  hardly  worthy  of  cultivation. 

PETALOSTEMON.     Prairie  Clover. 

We  have  five  or  six  species,  which,  though  valuable  and  use- 
ful to  stock  in  pasture  or  forest,  are  not  sufficiently  so  to  assure 
cultivation. 

ONOBRYCHIS  SATIVA.     Esparsette,  Sainfoin. 

This  perennial,  European,  pea-like  plant  has  a  high  character 
as  a  feed  in  France.  It  is  cultivated  to  but  a  limited  extent  in 
the  South.  It  is  worthy  of  trial  as  it  belongs  to  a  warm  climate. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  9 

ASTRAGALUS.     Milk  Vetch. 

Of  these  bean-like  plants  we  have  five  or  six  species,  two  of 
v  hich  deserve  mention.  The  Tennessee  milk  vetch  and  the  Caro- 
lina milk  vetch  furnish  considerable  food  for  cattle  and  might  be 
improved  by  cultivation. 

ARACHIS.     Pea  Nut,  Ground  Pea,  Finder. 

A.  HYPOG^EA.  This  species  from  South  America  and  the  Af- 
rican Gouva  or  Goober  are  every  where  known  and  much  esteem- 
ed for  the  large  seeds  and  the  bland  oil  made  from  them.  But 
the  stems  and  leaves  making  an  excellent  hay,  are  too  often 
left  to; decay  in  the  fields.  The  fodder  made  from  these  is  very 
nutritious,  valuable  and  much  relished  by  animals.  The  seeds 
are  admirable  for  hogs  and  other  live  stock. 

II.  THE   VETCH  TRIBE. 
I 

Pods  not  jointed,  two  valved ;  the  thick  fleshy  cotyledons  re- 
main under  ground  in  germination;  climbing  vines;  the  petiole 
of  the  abruptly  pinnate  leaves  terminated  by  a  tendril. 

PISUM.     Pea. 

P.  SATIVUM.  Common  Pea,  English  Pea,  Garden  Pea. 
This  species,  in  its  many  varieties  and  uses  is  so  well  and  univer- 
sally known  that  it  needs  only  to  be  named  here. 

LATHYRUS.     Vetchling. 

1.  L.  VENOSUS,  and  2.  L.  MYRTIFOLIUS,  native  species  are 
of  little  value;  and  L.  ODORATUS,  Sweet  Pea  and  L.  LATIFO- 
LIUS,  Everlasting  Pea  are  from  Europe  and  planted  only  for 
ornament. 

VICIA.     Vetch. 

1.  V.  SATIVA.  Common  Vetch  or  Tare  is  much  cultivated 
in  Europe  for  fodder,  and  to  a  limited  extent  in  this  country 
for  the  same  purpose.  There  are  two  varieties,  winter  and  spring. 
The  winter  variety  is  sometimes  planted  with  turnips  and  with 
oats,  barley  and  rye  for  winter  pasture  or  soiling.  My  expe- 
rience with  it  is  too  limited  to  commend  it  highly  for  cultiva- 
tion in  this  country  where  other  things  perhaps  more  profitable 
and  hardier  are  in  season  at  the  same  time  with  the  tares.  As 
a  variety  it  may  be  cultivated  to  a  small  extent  as  the  product  is 
very  valuable  if  not  abundant. 

V.  FABA.  Bean,  Windsor  or  Horse  Bean.  This  is  well 
known  every  where  and  in  some  regions  cultivated  for  the  edi- 


10  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

3.  V.  AMERICANA,  4.  V.  CAROLINIANA,  Carolina  Vetch, 
5.  V.  ACUTIFOLIA.  Acute  leaved  Vetch,  6.  V.  MICRANTHA, 
Small  flowered  Vetch,  and  7.  V.  IIIRSUTA,  Hairy  Vetch,  nat- 
uralized, are  all  valuable  wild  forage  plants.  Deer  and  cattle 
feed  on  these  greedily  and  grow  fat.  Some  of  these  grow  abun- 
dantly and  richly  in  the  southern  States  and  would  no  doubt 
give  better  satisfaction  in  cultivation  than  the  imported  varieties. 

LENS.     Lentil. 

L.  ESCULENTA.  Common  Lentil.  This  is  from  Europe  and 
cultivated  both  for  fodder  and  for  the  seeds.  But  it  is  too  f*3- 
ble  and  small  to  yield  much  of  either. 

III.  TICK  TREFOIL   TRIBE. 

Pod  separating  transversely  into  one  seeded  joints,  or  having 
one  joint  or  achene.  Stems  not  twining. 

STYLOSANTHES.     Pencil  Flower. 

5.  ELATIOR.     This  is  a    low    herb  with  trifoliate  leaves,  and 
small  orange  yellow  flowers  in  Iktie  clusters  or  heads;  and  it  is 
valuable  in  pine  barrens  for  browsing  in  heat  of  summer. 

LESPEDEZA.     Bush  Clover. 

1.  L.  REPENS.     Creeping  Lespedeza  lies  flat  on    the  ground 
covering   from  three  to  ten  square  fcet  of  surface.     It    will  not 
grow  on  good  soil ;  prefers  indeed    no   soil  proper,  but  clay  and 
sand.     It  is  utterly  worthless. 

2.  L.  VIOLACEA.     Purple    Bush   Clover  has  an  erect,  stout, 
branching  stem  and  varies  so  greatly  with  locality  that    several 
distinct  varieties  are  named. 

3.  L.  STUVEI.     Downy  Bush  Clover  with  stem  erect,  branch- 
ing, downy. 

4.  L.  HIRTA.     Hairy   Bush  Clover  has  an  erect,    wand-like, 
pubescent  stem. 

6.  L.  CAPITATA.     Headed  Bush  Clover  has  a  mostly  simple, 
erect,  softly   pubescent    stem.     These    last    four  contain    much 
nourishment  in  the  seed  and    foliage    and  grow  on  sterile  soils, 
where  stock  that  can  do  no  better  eat  them  in  late  summer,  and 
early  part  of  autumn.     Though  highly  commended  by  some  per- 
sons, they  are  unworthy  of  notice  except  on  very  poor  lands. 

6.  L.  STRIATA.  Japan  Clover.  Stock  do  not  relish  this 
plant  at  first  sight ;  but  tasting  a  few  times,  they  become  very 
ibnd  of  it  for  grazing  and  hay.  In  many  places,  they  abandon 
all  the  natural  pasturage  in  March,  April  or  May,  and  confine 
themselves  to  this  till  frost  kills  it  down. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          11 

By  frequent  grazing  or  mowing  it  is  kept  in  a  growing,  ten- 
der; palatable,  digestible  condition.  Cattle  fatten  011  it  and  pro- 
duce superior  milk,  butter  and  beef.  And  this  is  just  what 
should  be  expected  when  we  consider  that  the  justly  esteemed 
red  clover  contains  16  per  cent  of  albuminoids  and  41  per  cent 
of  carbohydrates,  while  lespedeza  contains  nearly  as  much  albiy- 
minoids  and  56.79  per  cent  carbohydrates.  Yet  planters  differ, 
widely  as  to  the  feeding  value  of  the  plant.  Nor  is  this  very  re- 
markable, since  this,  as  other  plants,  must  vary  much  in  eco- 
nomic value  according  to  soil,  climate  and  culture. 

In  the  report  for  1878,  p.  180,  Department  of  Agriculture,  it 
is  stated  that,  "It  is  a  low,  perennial  plant,  not  rising  much  above 
the  ground,  but  spreading  widely  on  the  surface."  It  is  true  that 
it  rises  little  above  the  ground  till  May  and  perhaps  throughout 
the  season  north  of  35°  and  on  poor  soils.  But  in  Mississippi 
from  the  south-west  corner  to  Brandon,  between  31°  and  33° 
latitude  it  rises  in*favorable  localities  to  12  and  18  inches,  and 
is  much  branched.-  Here  is  Mr.  Collier's 

Proximate  Analysis  of  Lespedeza  Striata. 

Oil,  3.30         Anylaceous  cellulose,         14.67 

Wax,  1.10         Alkali  extracts,  16.22 

Sugars,  14.74         Albuminoids,  15.11 

Gum  and  dextrin,  6.76         Ash,  4.33 

Cellulose,  23.77 

100.00 
Analysis  of  ash. 

Potassium,  4.67  Sulphuric  acid,  7.82 

Potassium  oxide,  34.78  Phosphoric  acid,  7.54 

Calcium  oxide,  29.60  Silicic  acid,  6.61 

Magnesium  oxide,  4.75  Chlorine,  4.23 

100.00 

There  is  a  good  plate  of  this  plant  in  the  report  referred  to 
above.  In  the  report,  Mr.  Samuel  McB-amsey  of  Warren  coun- 
ty, Tennessee  is  quoted  and  says  of  L.  striata:  "It  supplies  much 
grazing  from  the  first  of  August  till  frost."  From  this  statement 
it  seems  that  this  plant  "supplies  much  grazing"  at  least  four 
months  longer  in  south  west  Mississippi  than  in  Tennessee. 

It  is  extremely  hardy,  readily  takes  hold  of  the  soil,  holds  it 
against  other  intruding  plants  and  conquers  it  from  many  others. 
By  many  it  is  said  to  eradicate  the  broom  grasses  (Andropogons). 

One  serious  objection  to  it  is  that  it  kills  out  Bermuda  grass. 
This  however,  will  commend  it  to  some.  It  grows  well  on  and 
completely  hides  any  soil ;  in  washes,  which  it  arrests ;  and  in 
pine  thickets,  where  nothing  else  will  grow. 

It  compares  very  favorably  with  red  clover  as  a  fertilizer,  the 
above  analysis  of  the  ashes  showing  nearly  40  per  cent  of  potas- 


12  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

sium  and  its  oxide  besides  a  large  quantity  of  phosphoric  and 
sulphuric  acids  brought  up  from  the  subsoil  in  addition  to  the 
large  per  cent-age  of  plant  food  which  it  condenses  from  the  at- 
mosphere. 

We  have  so  many  genuine  clovers,  which  belong  to  the  Lotus 
tribe,  that  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Lespcdezas  which  belong 
tovthe  Tickseed  tribe,  should  ever  be  called  a  clover. 
The  hop  clovers  are  often  mistaken  for  Lespedeza.  The  former 
however,  have  yellow  blooms  in  conspicuous  heads  and  die  down 
in  June;  while  L.  striata  continues  through  the  summer,  produ- 
cing very  small  purple,  rose,  or  perhaps  more  properly  pink  col- 
ored blooms  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  in  September.  Some  years 
a  few  precocious  blooms  are  seen  early  in  eJune.  The  plant  pro- 
duces many  seeds,  only  one,  however,  in  each  little  pod. 

Where  it  grows  well,  it  has  much  root  and  is  difficult  to  plow 
under  and  to  kill.  It  is  also  difficult  to  burn  after  being  cut,  and 
may  become  troublesome  to  careless  farmers. 

How  this  plant  some  thirty  years  ago  came  from  Japan  is  un- 
known. But  for  15  years  it  has  been  rapidly  spreading  over  the 
southern  States  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  When  the  old  ge- 
nus Hedysarum  was  divided,  to  those  plants  having  a  one  joint- 
ed one  seeded  pod  or  akene  was  assigned  the  generic  name-  in 
honor  of  Lespedez,  a  governor  of  Florida  while  under  the  Span- 
ish rule.  The  other  plants  of  the  old  genus  having  flat  legumes 
with  two  to  six  joints  breaking  at  maturity  into  as  many  akciies 
each  with  one  seed  were  assigned  to  the  genus  Desmodium. 

Within  a  few  years  the  L.  bicolor  has  been  introduced  from  the 
Amoor  river  region,  northern  Asia,  as  a  late  summer  and  au- 
tumnal ornamental  plant.  But  this  two-colored  lespedeza  can 
never  become  a  useful  forage  plant. 

DESMODIUM.     Tick-seed,  Beggar  Lice. 

We  have  about  twenty  native  species  of  Desmodium.  Many 
are  Jiard,  woody  and  nearly  worthless.  Several  however,  have 
long  been  known  as  supplying  rich  food  for  deer  as  well  as  do- 
mestic animals.  These  plants  contain  a  large  per  centage  of  nu- 
tritive matters  as  shown  by  Mr.  Collier's 

Proximate  Analysis  of  Desmodium  from  South  Carolina. 
Oil,  2.35         Anylaceous  cellulose,      14.39 

Wax,  .44         Alkali  extracts,  7.04 

Sugars,  13.46         Albuminoids,  21.22 

Gum  and  dextrin,  8.15         Ash,  7.56 

Cellulose,  25.39  - 

100.00 

Analysis  of  Ash. 

Potassium,  6.33         Sulphuric  acid,  5.10 

Potassium  oxide,  27.81         Phosphoric  acid,  11.87 

Sodium,  .56         Silicic  acid,  11.19 

Sodium  oxide,  Chlorine,  6.61 

Calcium  oxide,  23.42 


OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          13 

•Mr.  Collier  does  not  name  the  species  analyzed.  He  calls  spe- 
cial attention  to  this  analysis,  adding:  "By  reference  to  the  anal- 
ysis it  will  be  at  once  seen  how  large  an  amount  of  albuminoids 
is  present;  and  for  the  purpose  of  comparison  the  analysis  of  red 
clover  is  placed  below  with  that  of  this  plant. 

Desmodium,  per  c.    Red  clover,  per  c. 

Carbohydrates,  45.83  41 .00 

Albuminoids,  21.22  16.01 

Cellulose,  25.39  35.01 

Ash,  7.50  7.08 


100.00  100.00 

"For  convenience  of  comparison,  the  carbohydrates  are  group- 
ed together.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  albuminoids  of  the  Desmo- 
dium are  to  those  in  red  clover  as  132  to  100,  while  the  amount 
of  ash  varies  but  slightly  in  the  two  plants.  The  immense  value 
of  clover  as  a  crop  preparatory  to  other  crops,  especially  wheat, 
is  well  known,  and  there  is  perhaps  no  way  by  which  exhausted 
lands  may  be  more  readily  restored  to  fertility,  and  maintained 
in  such  condition,  than  by  the  use  of  clover;  certainly  there  is 
no  method  which  compares  with  it  in  expense.  Now,  although 
clover  requires  an  amount  of  plant  food,  both  mineral  and  at- 
mospheric, far  in  excess  of  a  wheat  crop,  nevertheless  it  is  a  fact- 
very'  well  established  that  the  former  crop  may  be  successfully 
grown  upon  a  rield  where  wheat  would  invariably  fail  of  a  crop. 

"The  reasons  for  this  are  to  be  seen  in  a  comparison  of  the  two 
plants;  and,  although  it  is  a  'thice-told'  tale,  the  subject  especial- 
ly in  connection  with  this  plant  under  consideration,  is  such  that 
every  farmer  should  practically  understand  the  matter. 

"Clover  and  wheat,  then,  belong  to  two  families  of  plants, 
which  in  nearly  every  respect  are  in  the  strongest  contrast. 

"Clover  is  one  of  the  dicotyledonous,  or  those  of  which  the  seed 
is  divided  into  halves,  as  with -the  pea,  bean  etc.  These  plants 
are  characterized  also  by  a  strong  tap-root,  which,  descending  in- 
to the  subsoil,  enables  the  plant  to  secure  nourishment  from  be- 
yond the  reach  of  plants  of  the  other  sort. 

"Wheat,  on  the  contrary,  belongs  to  the  monocotyledonous 
plants,  the  seeds  of  which  are  not  so  divided  in  halves,  as  Indian 
corn  for  example.  The  roots  of  this  family  of  plants  are  surface 
or  crown  roots,  and  are  destitute  of  the  tap-root  already  spoken  of. 

"Again,  if  we  consider  the  habits  of  growth  of  the  two  plants, 
we  have  in  clover  a  plant  of  continuous  growth  through  out  the 
season  until  cut  down  by  frost  or  the  scythe  of  the  mower,  and 
an  enormous  leaf  development,  as  compared  with  wheat  with  its 
scant  leafage  and  its  short  life.  We  have,  then,  in  clover  a 
plant  with  a  tap-root  and  an  enormous  root  development,  ena- 
bling it  to  seek  out  and  assimilate  mineral  food,  with  a  great  ex- 
tent of  leaf  surface,  fitting  it  to  take  in  and  assimilate  atmospher- 


14  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

ic  food;  along  period  of  growth,  which  causes  it  to  appropriate 
the  greatest  amount  of  both  kinds  of  food  and  store  them  up  in 
root  and  stem.  In  wheat,  on  the  other  hand,  we  have  a  surface 
rooted  plant,  a  scanty  leafage,  and  a  short  period  of  growth. 
What  wonder,  then,  that  so  coarse  a  feeder  as  clover  should  thrive, 
even  where  so  dainty  a  plant  as  wheat  should  utterly  fail,  as  is  so 
often  the  case?  But,  as  will  be  remembered,  all  this  atmospher- 
ic and  mineral  food,  which  has  been  assimilated  and  stored  up 
in  the  roots  and  stems  of  clover  remains  to  furnish  an  abundant 
supply,  by  its  decay,  to  the  crop  which  shall  succeed  it,  and  thus 
clover  or  similar  plants  have  always  played  a  most  important 
part  in  all  systems  of  rotation,  as  in  the  wheat  growing  region  of 
the  Genesee  valley  of  New  York.  In  this  Desmodium  we  have 
a  plant  which  appears  to  be  a  substitute  for  clover  and  to  possess 
this  great  advantage,  viz :  that  it  will  flourish  vigorsusly  upon 
certain  lands  upon  which  a  crop  of  clover  can  not  be  secured. 
This  seems  to  be  especially  true  of  the  sand  barrens  of  the  At- 
lantic seaboard.  Certainly  if  the  statements  made  concerning  it 
are  to  be  credited,  it  is  destined  to  effect  a  revolution  in  agricul- 
ture throughout  this  section,  and  to  restore  to  fertility  lands 
which  have  been  partially  abandoned  by  the  former." — Dept. 
Ag.,  Report  for  1878,  pp.,  182,  183. 

Mr.  Collier's  reasoning  is  just.  But  the  Desmodiums  are  so 
light  and  so  diffuse  in  growth  that  I  think  the  quantity  per 
acre  would  be  small.  In  soils  mentioned  they  would  act  as  de- 
scribed, but  the  plant  food  they  could  bring  from  the  subsoil 
and  store  from  the  atmosphere  would  be  comparatively  little. 
On  the  same  kinds  of  soil,  I  opine,  the  Lespedeza  striata  would 
grow  well  and  obtain  and  store  plant  food  in  the  ways  mention- 
ed by  Mr.  Collier,  and  in  larger  quantity  than  the  Desmodi- 
ums could.  The  Lespedeza  possesses  other  properties  which 
would  give  it  preference  on  the  soils  and  for  the  purposes  con- 
templated. The  growth  is  so  dense  as  to  completely  blanket 
the  earth  for  the  hot  months,  protecting  from  washing  and  by  the 
dense  shade  preventing  evaporation  of  fertilizers  and  promoting 
absorption  from  the  atmosphere.  A  great  objection  to  the  Des- 
modium too  is  the  fact  that  the  hispid  jointed  pods  adhere  to  the 
cosfts  of  animals  and  people. 


RICHARDSONIA  SCABRA.     Mexican  Clover. 


This  is  a  native  of  Mexico  and  South  America.  It  has  be- 
come naturalized  in  Florida  and  the  southern  parts  of  other 
southern  States.  It  is  called  Mexican  Clover,  Spanish  Clover, 
Florida  Clover,  water  pursley,  bellfountain,  poor  Joe,  pigeon- 
weed  etc.  The  analysis  of  this  plant,  made  in  1874  by  Mr.  Me- 


AND  OTHER  FOKAGE  PLANTS.          15 

Murtrie,  shows  it  to  be  oqual  to  clover  as  green  food,  or  hay.     It 
is  as  follows,  being  thoroughly  air  dried : 

Oil,  1.50 

Gum.                         1  f  13.80 

Sugar,  dextrin  etc.     ^carbohydrates,  <  12.80 

Starch,                       J  L  11.00 

Chlorophyl,          ")  f    5.20 

Gluten,                   S  nitrogenous  compounds,  <     0.90 

Albuminoids,  [   9-60 

Cellulose,  33.30 

Inorganic  matter,  11.90 

100.00 

The  reader  may  compare  with  the  analysis  of  red  clover.  The 
analysis  of  the  ash  gave 

Insoluble  silica,  22.740 
Soluble  silica,  2.740 
Lime,  29.456 
Magnesia,  1.605 
Phosphoric  acid,  7.457 
Peroxide  of  iron,  trace- 
Sulphuric  acid,  2.617 
Chlorine,  2.840 
Potassa,  23.824 
Soda,  6.860 

99.639 

This  plant  grows  luxuriantly  on  our  southern,  sandy  pine  lands 
as  well  as  red  clover  does  on  rich  land  and  yields  as  much  green 
or  dry  food.  It  attains  a  length  of  three  to  six  feet  and  may  be 
mowed  and  fed  green,  or  dried  in  the  same  manner  as  clover  in 
order  to  save  the  leaves.  When  the  land  is  once  set  with  it,  it 
springs  up  from  seed  early  in  spring.  Crops  may  be  cultivated 
on  the  land ;  and  if  laid  by  before  July,  this  plant  springs  up  and 
soon  covers  the  ground.  It  is  relished  by  horses  and  mules, 
cows  and  sheep. 

Penetrating  the  earth  deeply  with  its  roots,  it  bears  drought 
well  and  brings  up  from  the  subsoil  and  prepares  in  roots  and 
stems  most  valuable  fertilizers;  being  rich  in  lime,  phosphoric 
acid,  and  remarkably  so  in  potassa.  By  its  dense  shade  in  the 
heat  of  summer  the  soil  is  protected,  evaporation  of  volatile  fertil- 
izers prevented  and  plant  food  absorbed  from  the  atmosphere. 
The  physical  condition  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  also  is  improved  by 
its  roots.  In  all  these  particulars  its  action  is  very  similar  to 
that  of  red  clover. 

It  is  not  known  how  far  north  it  will  flourish;  but  it  is  prob- 
able that  on  all  the  sandy  pine  lands  of  the  States  bordering  the 
gulf,  it  will  prove  a  very  profitable  crop  for  feed,  fertilizing  and 
soil-ameliorating  our  noses. 


16  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 


Medicinal]  v  it  is  said  to  be  used  in  <sr)\ 

ecac  and  is  there  called  white  ipecac.  In  1863,  while  superinten- 
dent of  the  laboratory  at  Mobile  for  preparing  medicines  for  the 
southern  army,  Dr.  Rohmer  prepared  and  furnished  the  powder- 
ed roots  of  this  plant  to  the  surgeons,  who  testify  that  "it  answer- 
fid  every  '..purpose."..  It  belongs  to  the  order  Rubiaeese  with  cof- 
fee, madder,  ipecacuanha,  cinchona  and  other  medicinal  plants. 
A  heavy  crop  of  this  plant,  plowed  under  in  the  fall  just  before 
frost  Or  immediately  after  being  killed,  should  be  followed  the 
next  spring  by  tobaeod,  corn  or  potatoes. 

IV.  THE  BEAN  TRIBE. 

These  are  mostly  twining  herbs  bearing  two-valved  pods,  not 
jointed.  The  fleshy  cotyledons  rising  above  ground  in  germin- 
ation. We  have  seven  native  genera  of  this  family. 

PHASEOLUS.     Bean,  Kidney  Bean. 

.,     '7 

Of  this  we  have  /four  natives:   P.  PERENNIS,  2.  P.  DIVERSI- 
-FOLIUS,  P.  HELVOLUS    and   P.  SINUATUS,  plants  of  considera- 
ble value  for  cattle. 

Of  the  more  valuable  cultivated  species  may  be  named  P. 
YULGARIS,  Common  Kidney,  String,  Pole,  or  Snap  Bean  ;  P. 
NANUS,  Dwarf  or  Field  Bean;  P.  LUNATUS,  Sieva,  Lima  or 
Butter  Bean  ;  all  much  esteemed  for  the  table  ;  the  green  pods 
of  the  first  two  and  green  seeds  of  the  last  being  used.  In  this 
connection  may  be  mentioned  also  P.  MULTIFLORUS,  Scarlet 
Runner  or  Spanish  Bean,  with  many  showy  white  or  bright  scar- 
let flowers;  and  P.  CARACAKLA,  Snail  Flower;  the  latter  of  lit- 
tle use,  the  former  valuable  for  table  and  forage.  There  are  ma- 
ny other  cultivated  varieties. 

DOLICHOS. 

D.  L.ABLAB,  Egyptian  or  Black  Bean  from  India,  and  D. 
CHINENSIS,  China  Bean  with  its  variety  melanophthahnns',  Black- 
eyed  Bean  are  useful  cultivated  plants.  Our  native  species  D. 
MUI/TIFLORUS,  Many  flowered  Bean,  somewhat  rare,  might  be 
cultivated. 

Our  native  Galaetias,  Milk  Pea,  Clito-ria,  Butterfly  Pea,  and 
Centrosema,  Spurred  Butterfly  Pea  are  common  and  valuable, 
but  they  yield  too  little  to  justify  cultivation. 

SOUTHERN  FIELD  PEA. 

Of  all  the  varieties  of  Beans,  however,  there  are  none  more 
valuable  than  most  of  those  known  in  the  South  under  the  mis- 
nomer "Field  Pea"  Of  these  there  are  many  varieties.  A  va- 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  17 

i 

riety  with  rather  small  yield  of  vine,  but  an  abundant  yield  of 
small  white  seed,  which  whether  green  or  dry,  when  cooked  af- 
ford a  delicious  tender  dish.  Another  white  variety  with  lar- 
ger seed  and  more  vine  is  also  an  excellent  article  for  the  din- 
ner table,  but  not  so  nice  as  the  former. 

The  "Whippoorwill"  with  larger,  mottled  seeds  of  early,  rap- 
id growth  and  may  be  mowed  several  times ;  or  when  a  few  seed 
mature  the  whole  may  be  plowed  under  and  soon  another  crop 
covers  the  ground. 

The  Red  Ripper,  Black,  Cow  Pea  and  others  yield  a  heavy 
crop  of  seed  and  hay.  They  should  always  be  sown  among  the 
corn  broadcast  or  drilled  each  side  of  the  corn  row  at  the  last 
working.  I  always  prefer  laying  by  corn  as  early  as  possible  in 
May ;  both  for  a  better  corn  crop  and  for  obtaining  a  heavier 
growth  of  the  pea  vines.  Peas  sown  in  June  rarely  yield  half  so 
much  vine  and  leaf  as  those  planted  in  May.  Those  planted  in 
July  grow  but^a  few  inches  high.  I  plant  rather  for  the  leaf 
and  vine,  of  which  I  wish  the  largest  possible  growth  both 
above  and  in  the  ground ;  the  root  to  release  and  bring  up  pot- 
ash, lime  and  phosphorus  from  the  deeper  subsoil  and  render  the 
latter  friable ;  the  vines  and  leaves  to  shade  as  densely  as  possi- 
ble at  the  time,  (July,  August  and  September,)  when  the  earth 
so  shaded  absorbs  with  most  avidity  fertilizers  from  the  atmos- 
phere in  addition  to  the  quantity  assimilated  by  the  plant  itself. 
These  field  peas  should  be  sown  on  all  stubble  lands  also,  as 
soon  as  the  grain  is  mowed,  either  broadcast  or  plowed  under ;  or 
if  seed  be  scarce,  drilled  in  every  fourth  or  fifth  furrow.  In  the 
latter  case  they  may  be  cultivated.  By  thus  following  the  crops 
of  grain  with  peas  the  land  may  be  continually  improved.  Af- 
ter a  single  good  crop  of  peas,  even  when  mowed  or  pastured  oif, 
I  am  confident  I  have  seen  the  yield  of  the  next  cotton  crop  in- 
creased fifty  or  one  hundred  per  cent  on  clay  soils. 

As  a  food  crop  they  cannot  be  too  highly  prized ;  they,  like 
small  grain  and  grasses,  require  no  labor  except  sowing  and  har- 
vesting. A  hand  will  pick  as  many  pounds  of  peas  as  of  cotton 
in  a  given  time.  Peas  rarely  sell  for  less  than  one  dollar  per 
bushel,  oftener  for  more  ;  and  as  during  the  current  year  the  pur- 
chaser sometimes  pays  three  dollars  per  bushel.  They  are  cheap 
at  the  highest  price  for  fertilizing  alone.  Every  one  should 
save  at  least  enough  seed  for  his  own  next  year's  planting. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  peas  are  very  often  much  dama- 
ged by  the  pea  weevil,  or  bug.  This  may  be  obviated  by  letting 
them  remain  in  the  pod  till  ready  to  use ;  or  when  well  dry  by 
threshing  on  dry  dusty  ground  and  gathering  up  dust  with  the 
seed.  If  threshed  by  machinery,  dust  or  ashes  may  be  supplied 
while  putting  in  sacks,  barrels  or  bins.  Any  air  tight  package 
will  prevent  insect  depredations.  But  if  put  up  in  air  tight  pack- 
ages, they  must  be  free  from  moisture. 


18  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

A  .serious  objection  to  keeping  in  pod  till  ready  to  plant  is 
that  in  the  spring  when  the  air  becomes  warm,  the  pods  are  in- 
fested with  numerous  mites.  When  animal  or  person  then  touch- 
es the  pods,  the  mites  attack  the  intruder,  penetrate  the  skin  and 
produce  an  intolerable  itching  that  will  sometimes  render' person 
or  animal  frantic  with  pain. 

For  feeding  daring  the  cool  months,  I  much  prefer  them  in  the 
pod.  If  improperly  fed,  however,  to  a  hungry  animal  he  may  be- 
come choked;  if  free  from  hull,  he  will  eat  too  rapidly  and  will 
have  colic.  An  animal  that  is  to  have  a  feed  of  dry  peas  should 
first  be  watered,  then  take  a  handful  of  pods,  giving  him  one  at 
a  time ;  after  which  there  is  no  further  danger. 

Peas  should  yield  as  many  bushels  as  corn  on  the  same  land  if 
properly  planted,  cost  much  less  to  produce  and  always  sell  for 
more.  Or  again  ;  on  two  plats  of  land  of  the  same  quality  plant- 
ed in  cotton  and  peas  the  crop  of  peas  will  pay  many  times 
more  than  the  cotton  in  proportion  to  expense  of  production. 

Now  a  word  as  to  pea  vine  hay.  This  is  not  difficult  to  cut 
with  the  hoe  or  scythe  if  in  drills;  nor  with  a  good  mower  if 
broadcast.  It  is  easily  raked  into  long  piles  or  larger  rounded 
ones,  with  the  horse  rake  of  proper  construction.  It  requires, 
it  is  true,  more  time  and  care  to  cure  well  than  grass ;  packing 
loosely,  it  is  more  bulky  and  difficult  to  handle.  Yet  it  is  high- 
ly relished  by  all  live  stock  and  is  worth  much  more  than  all 
the  labor  and  expense  of  saving.  When  sufficiently  dry  it  must 
be  protected  by  a  roof  sufficient  to  turn  all  rain.  It  may  be 
housed  in  rail  pens  with  rails  for  open  floor  a  foot  above  ground 
and  others  every  few  feet  above ;  or  in  houses  with  rails,  slats  or 
poles  above  ground  and  six  to  twelve  inches  apart  for  it  to  rest 
on  and  then  poles  through  at  intervals.  In  this  way  it  may  be 
cured  in  fine  condition  though  housed  when  but  half  dry.  Ven- 
tilators may  be  made  by  nailing  together  three  or  four  planks  to 
form  a  tube  extending  from  the  floor  upwards  as  high  as  neces- 
sary. After  filling  the  house  these  tubes  may  be  withdrawn  for 
use  in  another  place. 

It  should  have  been  mentioned  that  peas  fed  in  the  pod  are 
excellent  for  sheep  ;  and  a  few  daily  will  keep  them  in  fine  con- 
dition during  our  severest  winters. 

The  analysis  of  the  pea  and  vine  confirms  the  practical  obser- 
vations of  feeders  and  farmers  as  to  the  value  of  both  as  food 
for  animals  and  land.  While  containing  less  fat,  they  contain 
much  more  of  the  other  and  more  valuable  nutritive  matters 
than  any  of  the  other  forage  crops.  They  contain  also  more  ash- 
es peculiarly  rich  in  potash,  lime  and  phosphoric  acid,  besides 
plenty  of  soda,  magnesium  and  sulphuric  acid. 


AND  OTHEB  FORAGE  PLANTS.  19 

GLYCINE  HISPID  A.     Japan  Pea. 

This  bean  (it  is  not  a  pea)  came  under  my  observation  some 
twenty  -five  years  ago,  as  the  Japan  Pea.  It  was  then  cultivated 
to  a  limited  extent  for  a  few  years  ;  but  ceased  to  attract  atten- 
tion till  the  close  of  our  civil  war  ;  when  it  was  again  widely  sold 
as  the  Southern  Relief  Pea.  The  catalogues  name  it  8qja  hispi- 
da.  Though  not  a  climber,  it  may  be  the  Dolichos  $q/cr,  or  Soy 
bean  of  China  and  Japan. 

In  this  country,  this  bean  is  probably  not  esteemed  so  highly 
as  it  should  be  either  for  the  table  or  for  forage.  Few  people 
bring  it  to  the  table  more  than  once  ;  for  when  prepared  as  other 
beans  it  is  inedible  and  disgusting.  But  when  the  ripe  seeds  are 
soaked  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours  they  may  be  cooked  so 
as  to  afford  a  most  delicious  and  nutritious  dish.  The  soaking 
changes  the  shape  o£the  bean  from  globose  to  oblong. 

The  plant  is  erect,  three  or  four  feet  high,  much  branched, 
bearing  much  foliage  and  a  large  numbor  of  few  seeded  pods. 
Live  stock  are  fond  of  it.  But  when  old  it  contains  much  hard 
woody  fibre  and  the  seeds  are  very  hard  and  dense. 

For  forage,  it  should  be  cut  before  it  ceases  blooming;  and  it 
should  be  rapidly  cured,  not  too  dry  to  prevent  loss  of  foliage. 
As  it  does  not  pack  very  closely  it  can  be  housed  less  perfectly 
dried  than  many  other  forage  plants. 

It  grows  rapidly  and  may  be  planted  any  time  from  April  till 
July  inclusive.  On  ground  as  prepared  for  other  beans,  corn 
or  cotton,  plant  in  rows  three  feet  apart,  having  the  plants  one 
to  two  feet  apart  in  the  rows  ;  or  in  checks  three  feet  each  way 
with  two  or  three  plants  in  each  check.  Cultivate  as  corn  or 
cotton. 

This  is  probably  the  Sooja  or  Miso  of  Japan  so  much  used  in 
soups  in  that  country.  The  soy  or  sauce  made  from  these  seeds 
is  used  three  times  a  day,  as  salt  with  us,  in  nearly  all  dishes. 
The  favorite  Chinese  curd-like  dish,  Teu  hu,  also  is  made  of  these 
beans. 

CHAPTER  II. 


Family. 

This  family  is  very  large,  containing  one-tenth  of  all  known 
species  of  flowering  plants.  Few  of  them  are  valuable  as  forage 
plants,  some  as  human  food,  many  as  medicines  ;  most  of  them 
are  troublesome  weeds  and  many  of  them  pests  on  the  farm.  Only 
a  few  will  .be  mentioned  here. 


20  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

HELIANTHUS. 

H.  ANNUUS.  The  Sun  Flower  leaves  contain  considerable 
nutritive  material ;  and  the  seeds  are  very  rich,  especially  in  oil 
of  a  bland  character.  They  are  better  food  for  poultry  than  for 
large  animals.  The  plant  is  coarse,  large  and  not  sufficiently 
productive  to  be  desirable  as  a  farm  crop. 

2.  H.  TUBEROSUS.  Jerusalem  Artichoke  is  more  valuable 
than  the  preceding.  The  leaves  are  nutritious  and  relished  by 
stock.  The  plant  is  cultivated,  however,  more  for  the  tubers, 
which  are  produced  in  large  quantities  with  little  cultivation. 
They  are  wholesome,  valuable  food  for  stock.  They  remain  in 
the  ground  without  rotting  or  damage,  and  may  be  gathered  by 
hogs  at  will. 

The  tubers  for  planting  should  be  cut  in  the  same  manner  as 
Irish  potatoes  and  planted  like  the  latter  or  like  corn  from  one 
and  a  half  to  three  feet  apart  in  the  rows.  The  rows  should  be 
from  three  to  six  feet  apart  according  to  quality  of  land.  They 
may  be  planted  in  fence  corners ;  and  the  hoeing  to  keep  the 
fence-row  clear  of  weeds  will  make  the  crop.  In  fence  corners  , 
once  planting  is  usually  sufficient  for  annual  crops.  Though 
hogs  be  turned  on  them,  enough  will  be  left  for  another  crop  from 
year  to  year.  In  the  plowed  land  they  should  be  cultivated  like 
corn.  The  plants  grow  rapidly  and  require  little  attention.  On 
good  land  the  sun  flower  and  artichoke  both  produce  very  large 
tall  woody  stems,  those  of  the  latter  more  branched.  Where 
fuel  is  scarce  and  very  costly,  as  on  large  praries,  these  plants 
may  be  profitably  cultivatedfor  fuel  as  well  as  food.  This  fuel 
is  more  especially  adapted  to  use  in  the  cooking  stove.  Being 
very  rich  in  potash,  the  ashes  should  be  returned  to  the  soil. 

ACHILLEA. 

A.  MILLEFOLIUM.  Yarrow,  Milfoil.  This  plant  is  commend- 
ed by  foreign  writers  as  valuable  in  pastures.  But  its  value 
probably  consists  mainly  in  its  aromatic,  bitter,  tonic  properties. 
But  in  this  country,  live  stock  usually  find  enough  tonics  in  oth- 
er plants  to  serve  all  the  requirements  of  health. 

CICHORIUM.     Succory. 

1.  C.  INTYBUS.  Wild  Succory,  Chiccory.  This  plant  also  is 
commended  by  foreign  writers  for  forage.  But  as  it  imparts  a 
bad  taste  to  milk  and  has  no  great  nutritive  value,  it  should  be 
excluded  from  our  pastures  and  fields.  The  sole  use,  for  which 
it  is  cultivated  in  the  United  States,  is  for  adulterating  coffee, 
the  roasted  root  being  the  part  employed.  As  it  has  not  the 
properties  of  coffee,  the  practise  is  a  base  fraud,  a  criminal  swin- 

f\  1  f\       TT»^TYI    tirVfcirf^Vfc    4-rfc£*     ~r\r\f\\*  ^csv\o/"»l  o  I  \\7    dlTT/iY* 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          21 


2.  C.  ENDIVA  is  the  Endive   or  Garden  Succory,  the  blanch- 
ed radical  leaves  of  which  are  used  as  a  salad. 

CHAPTER  III. 
Plantain  Family. 


This  family  furnishes  no  plant  of  much  value  for  forage  or 
food  of  any  kind. 

PLANTAGO.     Plantain. 

P.  MAJOR.  Greater  Plantain,  Way  bread  is  diffused  nearly  all 
over  the  world,  following  the  foot-steps  of  man  every  where. 
It  is  of  so  little  Value  for  live  stock  that  I  would  prefer  not  to 
have  it  in  my  pastures.  It  was  long  esteemed  as  an  application 
(the  leaves  being  used)  to  blisters,  scrofulas,  tumors  and  ulcers. 
Thus  Shakspeare : 

"Romeo.     Your  Plantain  leaf  is  excellent  for  that. 
Ben.     For  what  I  pray  ? 
Rom.     For  your  broken  shin." 

It  has  recently  attracted  much  attention  as  an  antidote  for  the 
poison  of  snakes,  the  juice  being  taken  internally  and  applied  lo- 
cally. But  it  is  probably  most  valuable  as  a  forage  plant  for 
birds,  the  spikes  of  seeds  being  gathered  for  cage  birds. 

P.  LANCEOLATA.  Buckhorn  Plantain,  English  Plantain,  Rib- 
grass.  This  is  eaten  by  all  live  stock.  In  Great  Britain  it  is 
planted  for  sheep  pasture  especially.  On  poor  lands  it  may  be 
tolerated ;  but  it  is  of  too  little  value  in  our  country  to  be  en- 
couraged, except  for  the  amusement  of  children,  who  delight  in 
striking  off  the  short  spikes  or  heads,  called  "bullies"  or  "sod- 
gers."  The  seeds  are  relished  by  birds. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
IZoraye  Family. 


SYMPHITUM  ASPERRIMTJM.     Prickly  Comfrey. 

This  plant,  a  native  of  Caucasus,  was  brought  to  England  in 
1811  as  an  ornamental  plant.  Later  it  was  cultivated  as  a  forage 
plant  to  a  limited  extent,  but  was  not  esteemed  by  English  far- 


22  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

mers.  In  Ireland  it  was  grown  more  extensively  and  found 
quite  valuable  for  dairy  cattle.  The  bishop  of  Kildare  was  es- 
pecially conspicuous  in  its  culture  at  Glassnevin.  On  the  Ca- 
rew  castle  farm,  the  experiments  showed  a  yield  of  forage  re- 
ported at  82  tons  per  Irish  acre  : — 2SJ  tons  in  April,  31  tons  in 
July,  and  22 J  tons  in  September. 

A  few  years  ago,  Mr.  Ashburner  of  Virginia  introduced  the 
best  variety  of  prickly  comfrey  irtto  America.  From  him,  as 
soon  as  possible,  I  obtained  root  cuttings  and  have  grown  it  ever 
since.  Some  of  the  first  plants  obtained  remain  in  full  vigor — 
all  perhaps  that  were  not  divided,  nor  permitted  to  seed. 

An  analysis  of  the  comfrey,  made  by  Voelcher,  gave  the  fol- 
lowing results — the  plant  taken  in  green  state  and  also  dried  at 
212°  F.  Natural  state.  dry. 

Water,  90.66 

Nitrogenous,  or  flesh  forming  matters,  2.72  29.12 

(containing  nitrogen  4.34) 
Non-nitrogenous,  or  heat  and  fat  producing 

compounds,  4.78  51.28 

Mineral  matter,  (ash)  1.84  19.60 


100.00  100.00 
A  more  minute  statement  of  the  analysis  of  Voelcher  gives: 

Natural  state.  dry. 

Water,  90.66 

Oil  and  chlorophyl,                                                 .20  2.20 

'^Soluble  albuminous  compounds,                        1.10  11.81 

•(•Insoluble       "                                                      1.62  17.31 

Gum.  mucilage  and  Sugar,                                   1.28  13.65 

Woody  fibre  (cellulose)                                         3.30  34.43 

Mineral  saline  matters  soluble  in  water,            1.25  13.32 

Mineral  matters  insoluble  in  water,                      .50  6.28 

100.00  100.00 

'''Containing  nitrogen,  1.75  1.88 

•[Containing  nitrogen,  2.59  2.78 

Like  many  other  forage  plants,  comfrey,  in  a  green  state,  con- 
tains a  very  large  per  cent  of  water.  It  is  extremely  rich  in  mu- 
cilage and  contains  the  essentials  for  forming  flesh  and  milk  in 
abundance  with  little  increase  of  oil  or  butter.  Hence  when 
milk  is  too  rich  in  oil  or  butter  to  be  wholesome,  as  often  occurs 
in  the  Jersey  cow,  feeding  comfrey  would  reduce  the  excess  of 
oily  matters  in  the  milk  and  increase  the  quantity  of  the  latter. 

I  find  it  excellent  for  nursing  smvs,  and  indeed  for  all  kinds 
of  hogs,  cattle,  horses,  mules  etc.  Pigs  for  slaughtering,  fed  free- 
ly with  comfrey  and  sweet  potatoes  with  a  little  corn  or  meal, 
furnish  probably  the  most  deliciously  nice  pork  that  can  be 
produced  by  any  feed  whatever. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          23 

Having  a  long  tap  root,  comfrey  is  little  affected  by  prolonged 
droughts.  In  1879,  we  had  a  long  drought  terminating  the 
last  day  of  May.  ^Pastures  were  parched,  streams  and  springs 
dried  up ;  but  the  comfrey  flourished,  and  on  the  first  day  of  June 
we  commenced  cutting  the  fourth  time  since  March.  At  such 
times  it  is  extremely  valuable  for  all  farm  animals;  but  especial- 
ly for  hogs  and  cows.  It  may  be  cut  six  or  eight  times  a  year ; 
and  if  the  seasons  are  very  favorable  perhaps  ten  times  in  my  lo- 
cality. 

It  is  said  to  yield  on  rich  land  eighty  tons  per  acre ;  and  thirty 
tons  is  probably  a  medium  or  moderate  crop.  I  do  not  doubt 
the  estimate  of  the  Carew  castle  farm  crop.  On  good  land  the 
broad  leaves  may  attain  a  length  of  three  feet  and  form  an  im- 
mense conical  pile  for  each  plant.  Like  other  things  of  value, 
it  requires  some  work  with  attention  and  patience  ;  and  without 
these,  one  would  better  not  touch  it  or  any  other  crop.  From 
one-fourth  to  one  acre,  on  every  farm  properly  managed,  cannot 
be  better  occupied. 

Comfrey  can  be  propagated  from  seeds,  root  cuttings,  crown- 
cuttings  and  stem-cuttings ; — the  seeds  and  roots  being  best. 
The  seeds  may  be  sown  in  autumn,  winter  or  spring.  If  plant- 
ed early  they  may  not  appear  till  spring.  They  should  be  barely 
covered  with  soil.  The  roots  may  be  cut  in  pieces  an  inch  long 
and  the  larger  ones  may  also  be  split  in  two  or  more  pieces  and 
set  almost  any  time  if  the  ground  is  sufficiently  wet; — but  best 
from  Febuary  first  till  April.  I  speak  with  a  view  to  my  own 
experience  in  latitude  31°.  The  plant  is  perennial  and  requires 
little  cultivation  after  once  getting  rooted.  For  large  crops  it 
must  be  manured  whenever  the  yield  falls  off  too  much. 

The  ground  should  be  well  broken  and  as  deeply  as  possible 
with  convenience.  The  distance  at  which  the  cuttings  or  plants 
must  be  set  will  depend  on  the  quality  of  the  soil  and  the  prep- 
aration. Two  feet  by  one  and  a  half  would  require  14,520 
plants  per  acre;  2-J  by  1J  feet,  11,600  plants;  2  by  2  feet,  10,- 
890  plants;  and2J  by  2  feet,  8,712  plants.  This' is  as  close  as 
I  would  advise  to  plant ;  and  on  very  rich  land  I  would  have 
the  plants  three  by  three  feet.  Mr.  Ashburner  recommended 
setting  the  cuttings  very  deep  in  the  soil,  and  following  his  in- 
structions in  a  heavy  soil,  many  of  my  cuttings  never  got  out. 
Four  or  five  inches  may  do  in  very  light  soil,  but  in  very  heavy 
soil  one  inch  is  much  better. 

Most  animals  require  some  training  to  learn  the  value  of  this 
plant  and  to  acquire  a  relish  for  it.  But  when  they  do  eat,  and 
it  requires  but  little  effort  to  induce  them  to  try  it,  they  become 
excessively  fond  of  it.  I  have  never  found  it  necessary,  as  prac- 
tised by  some  persons,  to  confine  animals  te  make  them  eat  it, 
nor  to  mix  it  with  other  food.  If  hungry,  the  animal  may  be 
more  ready  «to  taste ;  but  even  when  full,  they  have  been  indu- 


24  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

ced  to  test  it.  With. a  hand  full  of  leaves,  go  among  your  ani- 
mals ;  if  one  will  take  a  leaf,  others  from  jealousy  will  come  and 
try  one.  If  this  does  not  succeed,  have  with  your  comfrey,  some 
other  green  plant  that  will  be  readily  taken,  only  enough  to 
give  one  animal  a  mouthful.  Others  seeing  the  one  eating  will 
come  and  try  the  comfrey.  A  few  trials  will  get  up  a  lively 
competition  for  what  they  soon  regard  as  a  choice  luxury.  They 
may  at  first  nibble  daintily  ;  but  soon  eat  greedily.  Poultry  also 
may  be  taught  to  eat  it  with  great  benefit, 

It  is  a  very  wholesome  food  and  very  valuable  medicinally  in 
inflamations  of  the  mouth,  throat,  stomach  and  bowels;  and 
may  be  used  as  an  external  local  application  in  wounds  and  other 
injuries  that  become  very  hot  and  painful. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Fnmily. 


This  family  embraces  a  number  of  genera  and  species  native 
in  the  south ;  some  ornamental,  as  the  quamoclits  or  cypress 
vines,  morning  glory  etc.;  others  are  pests  as  the  bind  weeds,  tie 
vines  and  dodder  or  love  vine ;  a  few  are  medicinal ;  and  two  or 
three  useful  for  food,  as  the  hog  potato  and  sweet  potato.  Only 
the  last  will  be  considered  in  this  connection. 

IPOMEA. 

I.  BATATUS,  or  BATATUS  EDULIS.  Of  the  sweet  potato  there 
are  very  many  varieties,  in  which  the  forms  of  the  leaves  differ 
very  greatly.  The  shape  and  size  of  the  tubers  differ  greatly  al- 
so, as  well  as  the  color  of  the  epidermis  or  skin  and  of  the  flesh. 
The  texture  and  flavor  of  the  edible  part  differ  much  too  in  the 
varieties.  Some  contain  apparently  no  sugar,  others  a  large 
quantity.  All  are  highly  valuable  as  food  for  man  and  beast. 
Horses,  cows,  sheep,  swine,  poultry  and  many  wild  animals  are 
very  fond  of  them  and  they  are  superior  food  for  all. 

The  pork,  bacon  and  lard  made  from  swine  fattened  on  sweet 
potatoes  are  firmer,  whiter,  sweeter,  less  disposed  to  become  rancid 
and  are  easier  to  cure  than  the  same  products  from  any  of  the 
grains  or  other  foods.  In  the  south,  every  farmer  should  pro- 
duce enough  sweet  potatoes  to  make  them  a  large  constituent  in 
the  rations  of  his  family  and  all  his  live  stock.  If  he  has  not 
enough  to  fatten  his  hogs,  he  should  at  the  very  least  funrish 
them  abuntly  during  the  last  eight  or  ten  days  of  the  process. 
This  will  greatly  improve  the  quality  of  the  products.  <  •?,-. 

The  potatoes  may  be  fed  to  swine  raw,  but  better  cooked. 
Unless  very  small,  if  fed  raw,  they  should  always  be  out  or  sliced 


AND  OTHER  FOB  AGE  PLANTS.          5  5' 

with  a  root  cutter.  Otherwise  animals  are  liable  to  choke;  but 
this  is  not  the  only  or  principal  objection  to  feeding  whole. 
There  is  great  waste  in  several  ways  in  feeding  whole  large  po- 
tatoes and  that  is  the  sort  all  should  produce.  But  it  is  cruel  to 
feed  them  whole  ;  for  in  attempting  to  bite  off  pieces  the  gums 
of  the  animal  (even  of  the  hog)  are  often  badly  lacerated  and  the 
blood  flows  freely.  No  animal  can  be  benefitted  under  such  suf- 
fering however  fed  otherwise. 

For  milk  cows,  potatoes  are  very  profitable  in  combination' 
with  hay,  grass  and  other  foods.  They  improve  the  appetite,  di- 
gestion and  condition  generally. 

For  the  horse  there  is  no  better  food  than  sweet  potatoes.  In 
a  warm  climate,  even  in  winter,  I  should  say  if  a  horse  is  to  be 
deprived  of  corn  or  potatoes,  let  him  have  the  latter.  The  rider 
or  driver  will  soon  discover  that  the  animal  has  a  softer  smooth- 
er coat,  a  healthier  skin  and  secretions,  more  life,  elasticity  and 
bottom  than  when  fed  on  corn;  that  he  will  endure  more  hard- 
ship, render  more  service  and  last  longer. 

For  the  table,  we  have  nothing  that  may  be  prepared  in  a  great- 
er variety  of  ways  or  that  can  furnish  a  greater  number  of  ap- 
petising dishes  than  the  sweet  potato  ;  to  say  nothing  of  its  many 
other  uses  in  domestic  arts  and  medicine. 

The  vines.  As  fodder,  nothing  can  be  found  richer,  better,  or 
more  relished  by  live  stock.  Even  when  thickly  covered  with 
mould,  they  are  readily  eaten  by  animals.  They  are  full  of  rich, 
starchy,  sugary  gum  and  rnilk  and  consequently  very  difficult  to 
cure — cannot  be  dried  at  ordinary  temperatures. 

When  ready  to  harvest  the  crop,  a  very  large  plow  may  be 
used  to  tear  off  and  heap  the  vines.  These  vines  may  be  hung 
on  fences,  stumps,  rails,  poles  or  under  open  sheds  and  thus  par- 
tially dried.  Those  exposed  to  rain  or  dew  should  be  used  first  ; 
and  those  under  shelter  reserved  indefinitely  for  emergencies  du- 
ring winter.  If  not  convenient  to  gather  the  vines ;  long  before 
harvesting  the  roots,  calves  and  colts,  or  a  milk  cow  or  two  may 
be  turned  on  the  vines  an  hour  or  more  daily  with  much  benefit 
to  the  animals  and  little  detriment  to  the  tubers  if  the  growth  of 
vines  be  rank. 

CULTIVATION  OF  THE  SWEET  POTATO. 

A  variety  suitable  for  the  purpose  contemplated  should  be  se- 
lected. If  for  the  table,  none  can  surpass  the  old  white  or  rather 
creamy  yellowish  yam  with  deeply  lobed  leaves  and  slender  vines. 
One  or  two  other  varieties  are  nice  for  the  table,  for  starch  and 
other  purposes.  But  it  is  for  stock  food  that  we  are  to  consider  it 
here.  The  red  or  Cuba  yam  is  approved  by  many  because  it  is 
early,  attains  large  size,  mostly  rounded  and  yields  an  abundant 
harvest.  It  however,  contains  less  nutritive  matter  and  more 


26  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

water  than  any  other  variety  that  I  have  examine^!.  Hence  I 
object  to  it.  It  has  so  little  solid  matter  that  it  may  be  cooked 
through  in  one-half  or  one-fourth  the  time  required  to  cook 
some  other  varieties. 

The  Bermuda  is  another  red  variety  with  mostly  elongated 
brittle  tubers — very  many  of  them  breaking  in  harvesting  and 
the  skin  slipping  off  easily  on  prsssure.  Yet  I  prefer  this  to  the 
preceding.  It  yields  largely  and  is  more  dense  than  the  Cuba  in 
texture. 

The  Shanghae  has  a  white  tuber  very  hard,  rather  insipid, 
sometimes  with  much  woody  fibre,  few  rounded,  but  rather  in- 
clined to  elongate  indefinitely,  gradually  diminishing  in  size  as 
the  roots  of  a  tree.  It  yields  largely  of  both  vines  and  tubers. 
In  harvesting  the  tubers  are  broken,  the  milky  gum  probably  com- 
bined with  some  resin  adheres  tenaceously  to  the  skin  and  what- 
ever else  it  may  come  in  contact  with,  and  it  is  very  difficult  to 
scrape  or  wash  off. 

The  Brazilian  yam,  another  white  variety  is  my  preference 
for  forage.  It  is  not  so  early  perhaps  as  one  or  two  other  varie- 
ties; but  it  produces  immense  crops  of  vines  and  tubers,  a  good 
proportion  of  the  latter  rounded,  and  containing  a  very  large 
quantity  of  nutritious  material.  They  grow  very  large  too,  ran- 
ging from  one  to  fifteen  pounds  in  weight.  Sometimes  one  is 
found  that  cannot  be  put  into  a  peck  measure.  The  Southern 
Queen  is  perhaps  as  valuable  as  the  preceding. 

Soil.  The  sweet  yam  attains  greatest  perfection  on  a  rather  poor 
sandy  clay  soil.  The  Spanish  requires  a  similar  soil  but  richer. 
The.  other  varieties  named  above  require  still  richer  soils  with 
less  sand.  The  more  sod,  straw  and  weeds  turned  into  the  bed 
and  covered  the  better  provided  there  be  earth  enough  to  enable 
the  plants  to  take  root.  The  crop  must  be  kept  free  from  grass 
and  weeds.  No  crop  is  more  seriously  damaged  by  grass  than 
the  sweet  potato.  They  require  a  large,  loose,  deep  bed,  and  -A 
little  earthing  up  about  once.  I  greatly  prefer  a  high  flat  bed  to 
the  sharp  ridge  or  conical  hill.  With  the  flat  bed  the  cultiva- 
tion can  be  managed  mostly  with  the  plow,  and  the  plants  suf- 
fer less  from  drought,  than  in  the  sharp  topped  ridge. 

Whatever  mode  be  adopted,  there  is  a  tendency  in  the  vines 
to  strike  root  at  every  joint,  especially  if  there  be  frequent  falls 
of  rain.  These  roots  form  tubers  and  diminish  the  size  and 
quantity  of  those  in  the  bed.  Hence  it  is  well,  v/hen  this  occurs 
to  lift  the  vines  from  the  ground  so  as  to  destroy  these  seconda- 
ry roots. 

Harvesting  After  removing  the  vines  as  above  described  or 
otherwise,  the  bed  may  be  opened  with  the  digger,  or  with  any 
large  turning  plow,  hands  following  to  pick  up  and  pile  the  po- 
tatoes turned  out  at  each  passage  of  the  plow.  After  all  visible 
are  thus  removed  a  heavy  harrow  mav  then  be  run  over  the 


'  .       AND  OTHER  For, AGE  PLANTS.  27 

/ 

ground,,  which  will  bring  many  bushels  more  to  the  light.  But 
still  many  will  be  left  for  cows,  sheep,  hogs,  mules  and  hordes  to 
glean  after  a  rain. 

Time  to  harvest.  I  would  prefer,  if  I  had  the  making  of  the 
seasons,  to  dig  a  day  or  two  after  a  light  fr^st  to  scorch  the  leaves 
and  check  growth.  As  to  wet  or  dry  condition  of  the  ground,  I 
find  little  difference  as  to  the  keeping  of  the  tubers.  I  have  felt 
obliged  to  harvest  when  the  tubers  were  covered  with  mud, 
sometimes  the  potatoes  much  smaller  than  the  mass  of  adhering 
mud.  They  have  kept  perfectly  sound  through  the  entire  year. 
It  is  more  pleasant  and  rapid  work  to  harvest  when  the  ground 
is  dry  enough  to  crumble  freely,  but  I  have  not  found  the 
tubers  keep  any  bettei  than  when  put  away  wet.  A  cold  rain 
on  them  while  harvesting  is  damaging. 

Bat  there  is  one  infallible  rule  I  think  as  to  the  time  to  har- 
vest. Break  or  cut  a  few  tubers ;  if  the  raw  surface  dries  and 
.scabs  over  promptly,  and  the  air  is  not  too  cold,  the  crop  may 
be  harvested  at  once  without  reference  to  any  other  indications. 
It  will  be  hard  to  make  the  tubers  rot.  But  if  the  raw  surfaces 
do  not  so  dry,  many  will  rot  no  matter  what  course  and  meth- 
ods may  be  adopted  to  prevent  it.  The  later  the  harvesting  can 
safely  be  delayed  the  better  as  some  varieties  grow  most  rapidly 
in  the  cool  autumn  when  the  nights  are  chilly. 

Seed  and  planting.  My  rule  is  never  to  plant  the  small,  re- 
fuse potatoets.  This  soon  runs  down  the  valuable  tuber.  I  se- 
lect my  roots  for  planting  while  harvesting,  reserving  for  that 
purpose  the  largest,  smoothest,  most  perfect  tubers,  and  as  near- 
ly globular  as  possible.  In  February  I  make  a  hot  bed,  in 
which  I  place  these  potatoes  close  together,  but  not  touching. 
The  bed  may  be  a  yard  wide  and  long  enough  to  produce  as  many 
plants  as  may  be  desired.  If  the  tubers  are  very  large,  I  split 
through  the  middle  and  place  the  cut  surface  downward.  As 
soon  as  the  plants  are  large  enough  in  April,  they  should  be 
drawn  and  set  out,  the  beds  being  at  least  four  feet  from  middle 
to  middle,  and  the  plants  along  the  middle  eighteen  to  twenty- 
four  inches  apart.  Frequent  drawings  should  be  made.  It  is 
not  necessary  to  wait  for  rain,  "seasons."  Make  a  grout  by 
mixing  in  a  hole  in  the  ground  recent  cow  dung  and  clay  with 
water,  dip  the  lower  part  of  the  plant  in  it,  set  out,  pack  earth 
firmly  at  bottom  of  root  without  bruising,  pour  in  a  little  water, 
then  cover  the  damp  surface  with  earth  loosely  and  your  plant 
will  grow. 

Cut  vines  also  grow  very  readily  managed  in  the  same  way. 
Whether  cut  vines  or  plants,  I  prefer  to  have  not  more  than  two 
eyes  or  leaves  above  ground.  Either  grows  best  by  being  put  in  the 
ground  slanting.  It  consumes  time  and  makes  some  work  to 
cut  off  all  the  leaves  from  the  part  to  be  put  in  the  ground ;  but 
I  prefer  to  do  it,  because  the  earth  can  be  so  much  more  nicely 


28  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

fitted  around  the  plant  or  cutting.  The  leaves  if  buried  rot  off, 
leaving  openings  through  which  the  plant  dries  up.  The  cut 
vines  yield  abundantly  ;  but  I  think  plants  make  more  round 
tubers.  One  accustomed  to  use  his  eyes  for  seeing,  can  distin- 
guish at  a  glance  as  far  as  he  can  see  distinctly,  a  pile  of  pota- 
toes grown  from  plantfs,  from  another  pile  grown  from  cuttings 
of  the  small,  refuse  tubers  generally  saved  for  planting;  the  for- 
mer being  nearer  round,  smoother,  more  symmetrical,  larger, 
better  every  way.  And  there  is  about  as  much  difference  in 
quality  as  in  appearance. 

Product.  I  think  200  bushels  not  a  large  crop  per  acre,  and 
400  not  difficult  to  attain.  Yet  how  many  planters  never  get 
100  bushels  per  acre  ?  The  most  successful  potato  grower  I  ever 
knew  thought  700  bushels  per  acre  not  a  very  extraordinary 
yield.  The  crop  is  easily  made,  the  yield  very  large  and  may 
be  fed  or  sold  Avith  immense  profit.  Yet  how  little  attention  does 
it  receive  on  the  cotton  plantation  of  to-day ! 

Saving.  Drive,  barely  deep  enough  in  the  ground  to  hold, 
three  boards  so  as  to  form  a  sort  of  rough  tube,  pile  the  potatoes 
around  heaping  up  to  a  cone,  cover  with  grass,  corn  stalks,  or 
leaves,  (pine  straw  is  most  convenient  in  some  respects,)  then 
with  boards  and  the  last  with  earth  from  six  to  twelve  inches  in 
thickness,  according  to  latitude,  leaving  the  ventilator  open,  and 
lastly  a  little  above  the  top  of  all  fix  a  cap  to  exclude  rain. 

Another  way  is  to  arrange  several  such  ventilators  as  de- 
scribed above,  or  any  other  shape,  a  few  feet  apart  in  a  row,  heap 
the  potatoes  along  so  as  to  form  a  long  rick  and  cover  as  above 
directed.  Use  from  one  end. 

Another  way.  Put  in  the  ground  three  or  four  feet  deep 
four  posts  eight  or  ten  inches  thick  and  projecting  as  high  as  de- 
sired above  the  ground,  so  arranged  as  to  form  the  corners  of  a 
house.  Pin  or  spike  on  to  these  posts  thick  planks  or  slabs  in- 
side and  out,  and  fill  in  between  with  earth ;  cover  with  strong- 
joists,  floor  and  earth  on  that;  put  on  a  roof  and  the  house  is 
completed  and  ready  to  receive  potatoes.  In  this  and  the  long 
rick  the  entrance  should  be  at  the  south  end  ;  and  the  earthen 
covering  should  be  very  thick  at  the  north  end.  In  very  cold 
weather  some  straw  or  hay  may  be  thrown  over  the  top  of  the 
potatoes.  I  have  been  equally  successful  with  each  of  these 
methods,  having  never  lost  potatoes  but  two  seasons  when  not 
able  to  give  my  personal  attention  to  the  storing. 

I  have  given  much  space  to  this  subject;  but  it  is  because  its 
importance  demands  it.  We  in  the  southern  States  can  grow 
no  cheaper  or  more  profitable  crop  than  the  sweet  potato. 


FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES  29 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  Night  Shade  Family. 


While  this  family  affords  many  poisons  and  valuable  medi- 
cines and  a  few  nice  vegetables  and  condiments,  as  red  pepper, 
egg  plant  and  tomato  ;  it  gives  but  one  of  much  value  as  food, 
the  Irish  Potato. 

SOLANUM. 

S.  TUBEROSUM.  The  potato  is  too  well  known  to  need  de- 
scription and  its  value  as  food  for  man  is  every  where  recogni- 
zed. It  is  valuable  also  as  food  for  live  stock.  .  But  as  it  should 
always  be  cooked  for  them,  is  more  expensive  to  grow,  less  rel- 
ished and  less  profitable  than  the  sweet  potato  and  less  certain  as 
a  crop,  I  can  not  recommend  it  as  a  food  crop  for  live  stock. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Nettle,  Buckwheat  and,  Pine- Apple  Families. 


1,  The  Nettle  Family  includes  the  Elms,  Figs,  Mulberries, 
Osage  Orange,  Hemps  and  Hops ;  but  no  forage  plant  perhaps 
properly  so  called,  although  cattle  eat  with  relish  the  foliage  of 
some  plants  of  this  order.  The  leaves  of  the  mulberry  are  quite 
nutritious.  The  Boehmeria  seems  to  be  worthy  of  some  attention 
as  a  forage  plant.  We  have  but  one  native  representative  of 
this  genus ;  but  it  is  everywhere  regarded  as  a  nuisance. 

The  B.  nivea,  (formerly  Urtica  nivea)  better  known  in  Amer- 
ica by  its  Malayan  name  of  'Ramie,  was  introduced  into  many 
parts  of  the  south  some  years  ago  as  a  fibre  producing  plant.  It 
produces  a  most  beautiful,  strong  fibre,  of  a  transparent,  glossy 
whiteness  surpassing  the  finest  specimens  of  linen.  I  have  seen 
nothing  in  textiles  more  beautiful  than  handkerchiefs  and  shirts 
made  of  Ramie  fibre  of  American  growth.  It  is  from  this  that 
the  famous  Chinese  grass  cloth  is  made.  It  is  said  to  be  supe- 
rior to  all  other  materials  for  Brussels  lace. 

This  plant  grows  readily  from  seed  and  from  root-cuttings  and 
may  be  rapidly  multiplied.  It  may  be  cut  three  times  a  year, 
yielding  an  immense  quantity  of  fibre.  It  requires  little  culti- 
vation after  once  fairly  started  to  grow.  But  being  a  new  thing 
requiring  a  new  mode  of  industry  and  special  machinery  for 
preparing  it  for  market,  it  has  nearly  disappeared  from  our 
country. 


30  FARMER'S  BOOK  OP  GRASSES 

It  yields  in  its  broad  leaves  an  immense  quantity  of  foliage 
much  relished  by  cattle  ;  and  a  few  persons  who  could  not  other- 
wise utilize  it,  fed  to  their  cows.  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  very 
valuable  as  a  forage  plant  and  deserves  special  study  as  to  its  nu- 
tritive qualities.  It  is  easily  mowed  with  a  machine. 

2.  Of  the  Buckwheat  family,  we  have  several  native  and  exotic 
genera  and  many  species ;  mostly  noxious  weeds,  some  ornamen- 
tal and  but  few  useful.     The  docks  are  pests  as  also  some  of  the 
smart  weeds;  though  some  of  the  latter  are  eaten  by  sheep.     Of 
Fagopyrum,  Buckwheat  there  are  two  cultivated  species  and  sev- 
eral varieties.     It  is  commended  much  as  forage  in  some  coun- 
tries.    Three  crops  a  year  may  be  grown  in  the  southern  States. 
The  seeds  are  good  for  poultry  and  pigs  and  when  well  cleaned, 
ground  and  prepared  for  the  table,  by  many  people  much  relish- 
ed as  Buckwheat  cakes.     I    have    planted  Kick  wheat    several 
years  at  intervals.     But  as  a  forage  crop,  or  for  plowing  under 
as  a  fertilizer,  I  think  we  have  many  other  plants   much  more 
profitable  for  the  use  of  the  southern  farmer. 

3.  Of  the  Pine- Apple  family,  we  have  but  one  plant  to  mention 
in  this  connection.      Tillandsia   usneM.es,    Black  moss,  Spanish 
moss,  long  moss  is   an  air  plant    found  growing   luxuriantly  on 
trees  in  large    districts  in  many    southern  States.     The   flesh v 
leaves  and  epidermis  contain    considerable   sugar  and  other  nu- 
tritious matters,  and  are  used  in  some  countries  in  times  of  scar- 
city of  other  food  for   cattle.     Some  horses  also    are  fond   of  it. 
The  uses  of  the  long,  black,  tough,  fibrous  central  thread  in  va- 
rious manufactures  are  well  known  every  where. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Sedge  Family. 


This  family  is  represented  in  the  southern  States  by  over  20 
genera  and  about  250  species,  mostly  worthless,  a  few  great  pests, 
and  a  few  useful.  They  are  rush-like,  or  grass-like  plants  Avith 
the  solid  stems  mostly  3  angled,  the  grass-like  leaves  when  present 
commonly  three  ranked,  the  sheath  a  closed  tube,  and  the  invo- 
lucre at  the  top  of  the  stem  consisting  of  grass-like  leaves,  often 
very  long.  These  plants  contain  little  nutritious  matter  and 
are  not  much  relished  by  cattle.  When  hungry,  however,  they 
may  eat  bog  or  swale  hay,  which  is  made  up  largely  of  the 
sedges. 

1.  CYPERUS  REPENS,  the  common  grass  nut  is  generally 
known  and  sometimes  cultivated  for  its  sweet  little  nut-like  tu- 
bers, much  relished  by  all  live  stock,  children  and  older  people. 
They  are  sometimes  found  in  the  markets. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          31 

2.  C.  ESCULENTUS,  the  chufa  from  Europe   is  much  like  the 
preceding  in  flavor,  not  quite    so  sugary,  tubers   more  flattened 
and  elongated.     Both  are  very  nutritious,   the  latter  more  pro- 
lific, yielding  a  large    amount  of  excellent  food,    especially   for 
pigs  and  poultry.     It  is  propagated  from  the  tubers,   planted 
singly  in  a  loose  soil  ten  or  fifteen  inches  apart  in  rows  two  feet 
apart.     Both  kinds  are  planted   alike.     The  Chufa  produces  its 
tubers  just  under  the  surface  of  the   ground  and  they  are  easily 
found  by  pigs  and  poultry.     These  animals  having  free  access  to 
them  will  exterminate  them  in   a  single   season.     The  grass  nut 
burrows  a  little  deeper  and  is  not  so  easy  to  destroy ;  yet  it  is  not 
troublesome. 

3.  C.  PHYMATODES    and  4.  C.    ROTUNBTJS,   (variety  Hydra) 
Nut-grass,  Coco-grass  are  fearful  pests,  very  difficult  to  eradicate 
and    causing  many    a    fine  farm  and  garden  to  be    abandoned. 
Hogs  are  fond  of  the  bitter,  rank-odored  tubers  and  by  rooting 
for  them  damage  lands  seriously.     The  under  ground  stems  and 
fibrous  roots  are  literally  woven  together  in  such  a  dense,  strong 
fabric  as  to  render  plowing  tough  work  and  hoeing  very  uncom- 
fortable.    The  plants  improve  tenaceous  clay  lands^and  prevent 
washing.     I  would  advise,  however,  to  suffer  not  one  to  grow  any 
where.     They  multiply  with  astonishing  rapidity.  On  clay  lands 
infested  by  them  good  corn  crops  may  be    made  and  still  better 
cotton  crops.     It  requires  more  hard  work  than  on  other  lands. 
But  after  one  good  plowing  and  careful  hoeing  of  the  crop,  they 
give  very  little  further  trouble  for  the  season.     In   most  other 
crops  they  are  utterly  intolerable. 

Like  quack  grass,  these  plants  grow  through  Irish  potatoes; 
and  not  unfrequently  tubers  are  fonnd  within  potatoes.  If  an 
eye  happens  to  stop  within  a  potato,  it  seems  to  develop  a  tuber 
there  as  readily  as  any  where  else. 

Many  experiments  and  attempts  have  been  made  to  destroy 
these  Cocos.  If  the  place  occupied  be  small,  shaving  daily  the 
surface  of  the  ground  so  as  to  remove  the  preceding  twenty-four 
hours7  growth  of  leaf  will  in  course  of  time  exhaust  the  tubers 
and  thus  destroy  the  plants.  For  they  can  make  no  new  tubers 
if  prevented  from  leaf-making.  On  larger  spaces,  by  obtaining 
early  in  spring  a  dense  growth  of  vines  of  our  common  field  pea, 
I  have  so  far  destroyed  it  as  to  have  little  trouble  with  it  for 
two  or  three  succeeding  years. 

I  have  tried  other  experiments  with  it,  such  as  watering  it 
with  crude  carbolic  acid  of  full  strength,  without  any  apparent 
injury  to  the  plant.  'The  most  satisfactory  results  I  have  had 
were  obtained  by  sowing,  on  ground  as  thickly  set  with  it  as 
possible,  red  clover  seed.  When  a  full  stand  was  not  obtained 
at  once  on  any  part  I  reseeded  till  it  was  covered.  In  two  or 
three  years  not  a  sprig  of  coco  could  be  found;  while  all  the  time 
I  was  having  fine  clover  crops,  worth  more  probably  than  any 


32  AND  OTHER  FOKAGKE  PLANTS. 

other  crop  that  could  have  been  grown  on  the  same  land  even 
though  free  from  the  Coco. 

CLADIUM  EFFUSUM  is  the  Saw  grass  of  marshy  places,  with 
its  saw-edged  leaves  working  fearful  damage  to  clothes  and  skin 
of  those  coming  in  contact  with  it. 

The  principal  use  of  the  Carex  stricta,  or  tussock  grass  is  as  a 
footing  to  persons  crossing  boggy  lands. 

"CHAPTER  ix. 

The  Grass  Family. 


The  first  and  oldest  fiat  ever  uttered  calling  into  existc  IKV 
any  organized  being  of  which  we  have  any  knowledge  or  record 
went  forth  as  soon  as  the  land  was  born  from  the  watery  womb 
of  the  Abyss ;  and  it  runs  thus  :  "Let  the  Earth  bring  forth  proas." 
— Gen.,  I,  11.  Promptly  Earth  donned  her  emerald  robe.  Ge- 
ology confirms  the  record  that  grasses  were  among  the  earliest 
organized  things  of  our  terraqueous  globe.  And  this  must  needs 
be  so,  since  it  is  written  "bread  is  the  staff  of  life"  and  declared 
that  "All  flesh  is  grass."  The  greatest  earthly  blessings  con- 
ferred on  men  and  animals  are  derived  from  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  grasses;  the  greatest  distresses  and  curses,  from  their  absence 
or  destruction.  , 

This  very  large  family  or  Order  furnishes  a  greater  number 
of  useful  plants  than  any  other.  And  they  are  in  many  respects 
more  valuable  and  more  essential  to  the  support  of  animal  life 
than  all  others  together.  Besides  fibres  for  cordage  and  textiles 
of  many  kinds,  coal  and  other  fuels,  many  other  materials  use- 
ful in  many  arts,  sugars  and  syrups,  they  supply  the  bulk  of 
foods  for  man  and  beast. 

As  illustrating  the  value  of  this  family,  it  may  be  stated  that 
the  value  of  the  annual  products  of  grasses  in  the  United  States 
is  several  times  greater  than  that  of  the  cotton  crop  of  the  whole 
world.  Even  the  hay  crop  of  the  United  States  is  worth  more 
than  the  entire  cotton  crop  of  the  whole  world. 

The  farmer,  therefore,  has  a  deeper,  more  abiding  interest  in 
this  order  of  plants  than  in  all  others.  For  what  would  be  the 
condition  of  man  without  maize,  wheat,  barley,  oats,  rye,  rice  and 
sugar  cane?  What  of  animals  without  other  grasses?  Yet  on- 
ly a  few  of  the  thousands  of  species  can  be  mentioned  here. 

LEERSIA. 

1.  L.  OEYZOIDES.  White  Grass,  Cut  Grass,  False  Rice. 
This  beautiful  native  grass  is  found  in  wet,  swampy  places,  and 
along  the  margins  of  ditches  and  streams.  The  stems  grow 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          33 

from  two  to  four  feet  high,  commonly  prostrate  at  the  base. 
The  leaves  are  long  and  narrow,  and  the  sheaths  very  rough  and 
sharp  to  the  hand  drawn  downward  in  contact  with  them. 

2.  L.  VIRGINICA.     Small   flowered    White  Grass,    Virginia 
Cut  Grass.     This  grass    also   is  beautiful,   more    delicate    and 
smoother  than  the  preceding.     It  grows  in  the  same  localities  as 
the  other.     Both  have  been  cut  for  hay,   of  which  it  is   claimed 
by  some,  they  make  an  excellent  quality.     As  they  often  grow  in 
soft  mud  and  shallow  water,  they  must  be  moved  to  dry   land 
as  soon  as  cut  in  order  to  dry  them.     They  are   not  of  sufficient 
value  to  induce  any  one  to    grow  them ;    but  yet  where  growing 
spontaneously,  they  may  be  mowed  with  profit. 

3.  L.  HEXANDRA.     This    species,  with   slender    stems  from 
one  to  six  feet  long  and  narrow  rigid    leaves,   would  be  of  little 
value  if  it  could  be  mowed.     But  as  it  grows,  in  lakes  and  ponds 
even  though  water  be  pretty  deep,  this  is  impracticable. 

4.  L.  LENTICULARIS.  Catch  Fly  Grass.     This  species  having 
much  the  same  habit  as  the  preceding  is  of  as  little  value.     It  is 
chiefly  interesting  because  Pursh   says  that  he   has  observed  it 
catching  flies  with  its  pales,  which  in  structure  resemble  the  leaves 
of  the  Venus'  fly-trap. 


ZlZAMA. 


1.  Z.  AQUATICA,  Wild  Rice,  Indian  Rice,  Water  Oats.  This 
grass  abounds  in  marshes,   ponds,  shallow  streams  and  on  some 
of  the  floating  islands  or  shaking  prairies.     The  broad  leaves  are 
rough  underneath  and  the  stems  from  four  to  ten  feet  high,  bear- 
ing a  widely  spreading  pyramidal    panicle  one  or  two  feet  long, 
the  long  lower  branches  of  which  bear  the  staminate  blooms,  the 
upper  erect  branches  bear  the  pistilate  or    fertile  flowers.     The 
cylindrical  seeds,  half  an  inch  long,  when  ripe  fall  by   a  slight 
motion  of  the  stems,  and  furnish  a  large  quantity  of  food  for  birds 
and  other  animals.     The  Indians  often  harvest  the  seed  .for  their 
own  food,  as  other  races  may  have  done  in  some  cases,  this  being 
the  folle  avoine  of  the  early  French  settlers  of  the  Mississippi  val- 
ley.    When  the  anthers  burst,  the  grains  of  pollen,  being  light- 
er than  the  atmosphere,  float  up  to  the  stigrnas ;  just  the  reverse 
of  what  occurs  in   our  Indian  corn.     This  grass  is  relished  by 
stock,  may  be  cut  twice  a  season,  and  yields  a  large  quantity  of 
good  hay.      It  must  be  cut  before  maturity  to  obtain  the  best  re- 
sults. 

2.  Z.   MILIACEA,  Prolific   Rice,   grows  in  the  same  localities 


34  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

as  the  preceding,  nearly  as  tall ;  panicles  with  staminate  and  pis- 
tilate  spikelets  intermixed ;  leaves  somewhat  glaucous,  smooth, 
with  rough  edges ;  grain  oval,  and  in  great  abundance.  It  may 
be  used  in  all  respects  as  the  preceding.  When  the  spring  and 
summer  prove  dry,  many  of  our  shallow  lakes  dry  up,  leaving 
these  and  other  water  grasses  growing  luxuriantly.  Planters 
for  miles  around  mow  and  utilize  these  gratuitous  harvests. 

ORYZA. 

O.  SATIVA,  Rice,  from  Asia,  but  now  cultivated  in  many 
parts  of  both  hemispheres  of  our  globe  forms  the  principal  arti- 
cle of  food  to  more  millions  of  the  human  race  probably  than  any 
other  grain.  In  our  southern  States,  we  have  several  varieties 
of  rice,  known  as  white  and  red  ;  awned  and  beardless ;  upland 
and  lowland.  The  larger  quantity  is  produced  on  lands  that 
may  be  flooded  and  thus  kept  clear  of  most  Aveeds,  and  the  ex- 
pense of  cultivation  reduced  to  a  minimum.  Bnt  on  the  other 
hand,  small  areas  for  home  consumption  and  as  an  auxiliary 
crop  are  cultivated  over  a  very  large  portion  of  the  southern 
United  States  in  highland  rice.  The  large  grained  beardless 
white  is  the  variety  usually  preferred  for  uplands.  To  render 
cultivation  easy,  many  farmers  annually  clear  a  "new  ground" 
for  the  rice  crop,  as  by  this  means  the  plants  are  less  beset  with 
grasses  and  weeds  and  the  cultivation  is  lighter  work.  It  is  on- 
ly as  food  for  live  stock  (cattle  especially)  that  it  is  here  noticed. 
The  seeds  mature  while  the  stems  and  leaves  are  still  quite  green. 
These  last  when  properly  cured  constitute  a  valuable  hay.  The 
upland  rice  planted  on  new  land  in  April  matures  a  crop  of 
large-sized  grain  of  the  best  quality  and  a  large  quantity  of  hay. 
If  the  season  be  favorable,  a  second  crop  from  the  same  roots  of 
smaller  growth  and  smaller  grain  may  be  mowed  in  October  for 
hay.  Both,  usually  thrown  away,  are  very  valuable  and  should 
be  carefully  utilized. 


ALOPECURUS. 


1.  A.  GENICULATUS,  Floating  Fox-tail  Grass.  The  culms 
of  this  grass  are  from  6  to  12,  rarely  18  inches  long,  bearing 
compressed  cylindrical  spikes  from  1  to  1J  inches  long,  bent, 
geniculate  at  the  lower  joints ;  leaves  3  or  4  inches  long,  the 
sheath  of  the  upper  one  about  as  long  as  its  leaf,  which  distin- 
guishes it  from  meadow  fox-tail  in  which  the  upper  sheath  is 
more  than  twice  the  length  of  its  leaf.  It  blooms  from  Febru- 
ary till  May,  growing  in  damp  cultivated  grounds  and  mead- 
ows, ditches,  ponds  and  sluggish  streams.  It  is  of  little  worth. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          35 

2.  A.  PRATENSIS,  Meadow  Fox-tail,  is  larger  than  the  prece- 
ding, 2  to  3  feet  high,  grows  with  great  luxuriance,  and  in  Eng- 
land is  regarded  as  holding  a  place  with  the  best  grasses,  both 
as  green  forage  and  as  hay. 

WAY'S  ANALYSIS.           Green.  Dried. 

Water,  80.20 

Albuminous  or  flesh  forming  principles,  2.44  13.32 

Fatty  matters,  .52  2.92 

Heat  producing  principles,  starch,  sugar,  etc.,       8.59  43.12 

Woody  fibre,  6.70  33.83 

Mineral  matter  or  ash,  1.55  7.81 


100.00        100.00 

This  grass  resembles  timothy  in  appearance,  but  the  head  is 
soft,  while  that  of  timothy  is  rough.  It  grows  after  cutting 
much  more  rapidly  than  timothy  and  bears  grazing  better, 
though  it  does  not  attain  perfection  till  two  or  three  years  old. 
It  grows  best  on  rich,  nioist  or  even  wet  soils  and  is  one  of  the 
most  valuable  of  grasses. 

PHLEUM. 

P.  PRATENSE,  Timothy. 

About  one  hundred  and  seventy  years  ago,  a  Mr.  Herd  found 
this  grass  in  a  swamp  in  New  Hampshire.  He  cultivated  it;  oth- 
ers followed  his  example  and  called  it  Herd's  grass,  by  which 
name  it  is  still  know  in  New  York  and  the  New  England  States. 
It  must  be  noted,  however,  that  this  is  not  the  herd's  grass  of 
the  other  States.  From  the  shape  of  the  spike  it  is  often  called 
Cat's-tail  grass.  About  the  year  1720,  it  Avas  brought  to  Mary- 
land by  Timothy  Hanson,  who  cultivated  it  so  successfully  on 
the  Hanson  farm  as  to  give  it  a  widespread  fame  and  the  familiar 
name  now  generally  accepted  for  it. 

London  claims  if  as  a  native  of  England.  The  Am.  Farmer's 
Cyclopedia  says  it  is  "perennial,  native  of  Britain,"  and  in  the 
next  sentence  but  one  says,  "This  is  a  great  American  grass,  and 
is  called  timothy  from  Mr.  Timothy  Hanson,  who  first  introdu- 
ced its  seeds  into  Maryland."  It  may  have  become  naturalized 
in  America  at  a  very  early  time ;  but  from  a  large  amount  of 
testimony,  with  which  these  pages  need  not  be  encumbered, 
there  is  strong  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  a  native  of  the  United 
States,  and  was  taken  from  Virginia  to  England  about  the  year 
1760.  It  attracted  but  little  attention  in  England  till  1824, 
when  Sinclair's  Woburn  Abbey  experiments  were  made. 

The  more  elaborately  accurate  investigations  of  Prof.  Way  ful- 
ly established  its  value.  Subjoined  is 


36                       PAHMEK'S  BOOK  OF  GRASPS 

PROF.  WAY'S  ANALYSIS. 

',  Green.  Dry. 

Water,  57.21 

Albuminoids,  4.86  1 1  .3<j 

Fatty  matters,  1.50  3.55 

Heat  producing  principles,  22.85  53.35 

Woody  fibre,  11.32  26.4IJ 

Ash,  2.26  5.28 


100.00  100.00 

These  experiments  and  analyses  have  no  doubt  contributed 
largely  to  the  extended  culture  of  timothy  as  a  hay  grass.  This 
grass  being  easily  handled,  the  hay  having  a  fine  appearance  and 
subject  to  little  waste  in  transportation  also  serve  to  render  it  a 
favorite  for  marketing.  Analyses  showing  further  that  this 
grass  cut  when  the  seeds  are  fully  ripe  contains  twice  as  much 
nutriment  as  when  cut  in  bloom,  this  fact  also  serves  to  render 
it  more  generally  popular.  But  this  very  fact,  while  perhaj  s 
fully  comprehended  by  the  shrewd  farmer,  is  liable  to  mislead 
the  purchaser.  The  increased  nutriment  is  accumulated  in  the 
ripe  seeds.  These  the  farmer  threshes  out,  ships  the  hard,  woodv 
stems,  and  sells  the  seeds  to  other  farmers  for  more  than  his  hay 
brings  him.  Or  if  he  use  such  hay  at  home,  it  is  so  difficult  to 
digest  that  it  taxes  the  powers  of  the  animal  and  then  a  large 
portion  of  the  nutritive  matter  is  lost  from  the  inability  of  the 
assimilative  organs  to  appropriate  it. 

Timothy  is  a  very  destuctive  crop  in  one  sense  ;  it  exhausts 
and  impoverishes  the  soil  very  rapidly  unless  heavily  manured. 
Its  roots  penetrate  to  little  depth,  and  in  two  or  three  years  it 
exhausts  the  soil  near  the  surface.  This  may  be  obviated  to  a 
certain  degree  by  growing  red  clover  with  it.  But  this  is  an  un- 
satisfactory arrangement  because  the  clover  is  ready  to  mow 
long  before  the  timothy.  If  mowed  when  the  clover  is  ready, 
the  loss  in  timothy  will  be  great ;  if  mowed  when  the  timothy  is 
ready  the  loss  of  clover  will  be  greater. 

Yet  it  makes  a  very  superior  hay  and  if  heavily  manured,  not 
kept  too  long  on  the  same  land,  and  specially  if  fed  on  the  farm 
and  the  manure  therefrom  returned  to  the  soil,  no  great  Iqss  or 
damage  will  be  incurred.  I  do  not  regard  it,  however,  as  the 
best  or  most  desirable  hay  grass  for  the  south.  On  dry  upland 
the  roots  become  bulbous,  it  bears  drought  and  grazing  badly 
and  should  be  cut  early  to  obtain  the  best  advantages  from  it. 
It  succeeds  best  on  moist  bottom  land,  but  does  not  bear  gra- 
zing very  well  in  any  situation  in  the  south.  But  it  will  give 
as  heavy  mowings  in  the  southern  States  as  any  where.  I 
have,  however,  ceased  to  grow  it,  although  on  good  land  it  will 
yield  four  tons  per  acre.  But  this  quantity  of  timothy  hay 
removes  from  the  soil  six  hundred  pounds  or  n.ore  of  potash 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          37 

It  should  be  sown  on  well  prepared  land  in  September  or  Oc- 
tober, February  or  March,  at  the  rate  of  twelve  to  fifteen  pounds 
of  seed  per  acre,  and  harrowed. 

In  the  eastern  States  it  has  been  more  and  more  damaged  each 
succeeding  year  by  an  insect  killing  the  stems,  and  the  same  may 
occur  in  the  south. 

It  should  have  been  stated  that  in  mowing,  timothy  should 
be  cut  above  the  second  joint  as  it  then  recovers  more  promdtly 
than  when  cut  close  to  the  ground. 

SPOROBOLUS. 

S.  INDICUS,  Smut  grass. 

This  perennial  plant  from  India  is  thoroughly  naturalized  and 
at  home  in  our  southern  States.  In  some  localities  it  is  known 
as  'carpet  grass/  But  we  have  several  other  carpet  grasses. 
After  blooming  a  large  proportion  of  the  panicles  become  af- 
fected with  a  dark  parasitic  growth,  which  adheres  to  the  cloth- 
ing of  any  one  coming  in  contact  with  it,  giving  it  a  smutty  ap- 
pearance ;  and  hence  it  is  appropriately  and  more  generally 
termed  smut  grass. 

It  grows  abundantly  and  luxuriantly  on  many  uncultivated 
fields  and  commons,  and  furnishes  grazing  from  April  till  frost. 
It  thrives  under  much  grazing  and  many  mowings,  and  grows 
promptly  after  each  if  the  soil  be  moist  enough.  Cattle  and 
horses  are  fond  of  it,  if  frequently  cut  or  grazed  down.  But  if 
allowed  to  remain  untouched  long,  they  wrill  not  eat  it,  unless 
very  hungry  as  it  becomes  tough  and  unpalatable  and  probably 
difficult  to  digest.  It  grows  in  clumps  producing  many  long 
leaves  one  to  three  feet,  and  culms,  the  latter  generally  eighteen 
inches  to  two  feet  high,  though  on  rich  land  sometimes  three 
feet.  July  27,  I  have  just  measured  some  4  feet  8  inches.  The 
long,  (6  to  18  inches)  slender,  compact  panicles  usually  appear 
like  spikes  unless  closely  examined. 

Like  other  grasses,  especially,  Bermuda,  Johnson  and  gama 
grass,  it  must  be  cut  early  and  often  to  make  good  hay.  But 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  it  does  not  make  a  very 
choice  hay,  although  containing  a  large  quantity  of  nutritive 
principles  as  shown  by  Mr.  Collier's  analysis,  which  is  here 
given  : 

Proximate  analysis  of  Sporobolus    Indicus  from  Mississippi. 

Oil,  2.99         Anylaceons  cellulose       27.06, 

Wax,  .31         Alkali  extract,  14.16  * 

Sugars,  8.17         Albuminoids,  12.46 

Gum  and  dextrin,  2.75         Ash,  6.19 

Cellulose,  25.91 

100.00 


38  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,                         12.16         Sulphuric  acid,  4.60 

Potassium  oxide,              33.53         Phosphoric  acid,  6.02 

Sodium,                                              vSilicic  acid,    •  27.36 

Sodium  oxide,                                    Chlorine,  11.03 

Calcium  oxide,  2.64  

Magnesium  oxide,             2.66  100.00 

Its  generic  name  is  founded  on  the  fact    that  it  sheds  its  seeds 
so  easily ;  and  hence  it  has  been  called    also  Indian   drop-seeds. 

Of  several  other  species    found   in  the  southern    States,  none 
need  special  mention. 

MUHLENBERGIA. 


M.  DIFFUSA,  Wire  Grass,  Nimble  Will,  Drop-seed  Grass. 
This  and  Bermuda  grass  are  often  mistaken  for  each  other.  But 
the  stems  of  this  are  not  so  much  covered  by  the  sheaths  as  in 
the  Bermuda ;  the  leaves  are  shorter  and  broader  in  proportion 
to  length,  rougher  and  lighter  tinted  than  in  Bermuda ;  it  has 
but  one  leaf  to  each  node  and  joint,  while  Bermuda  has  two  or 
three  and  even  four ;  and  the  culms  of  the  latter  are  crowned 
with  usually  three  to  five  digitate  spikes,  while  the  former  has 
an  appressed  rather  long  panicle.  Both  are  perennial.  Wire 
grass  affects  the  open  woodlands;  Bermuda,  open  sun-exposed 
fields.  Bu-  the  latter  is  often  found  in  open  woodlands  also  ; 
and  sometimes  we  see  its  possession  of  the  open  field  contested 
by  the  former  with  pretty  equal  success  for  years.  The  wire 
grass  is  more  wiry,  grows  taller  and  is  less  nutritious,  less  di- 
gestible and  1  ess  relished  by  stock  than  the  Bermuda. 

Yet  it  has  a  very  good  percentage  of  nutritive  matter  as  shown 
by  Mr.  Collier's 


ANALYSIS  OF  MUHLENBERGIA  DIFFUSA. 


Oil,  1.39         Amylaceous  cellulose,     19.81 

Wax,  .43         Alkali  extract,  23.89 

Sugars,  8.96        -Albuminoids,  10.06 

Gum  and  dextrin,  4.48         Ash,  7.61 

Cellulose,  23.37 

100.00 


AND  OTHER  _r  ORAGE  PLANTS.  39 

ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  6.78  Sulphuric  acid,  3.39 

Potassium  oxide,  17.32  Phosphoric  acid,  6.65 

Sodium,  1.33  Silicic  acid,  39.98 

Sodium  oxide,  Chlorine,  8.21 

Calcium  oxide,  11.95 

Magnesium  oxide,  4.39  100.00 

I  The  analysis  shows  that  those  who  esteem  it  as  a  butter  pro- 
ducing grass  have  good  reasons  for  their  faith.  Some  think  it 
also  imparts  a  specially  agreeable  flavor  to  butter.  Some  say 
their  stock  are  fond  of  it  and  that  feeding  on  it  in  'the  range' 
they  become  sleek  and  fat.  My  own  horses,  mules,  cows  and 
hogs  have  never  seemed  to  like  it ;  and  although  sheep  eat  it 
readily  and  profitably,  I  am  obliged  to  confess  I  regard  it  on 
one  piece  of  land  at  least  as  one  of  the  worst  pests  I  have  ever 
had.  I  have  mowed  it  from  two  to  four  feet  long  and  made 
pretty  good  hay  of  it;  and  it  is  easily  cured.  But  it  is  difficult 
to  control  and  exterminate ;  and  I  would  prefer  not  to  have  it 
on  my  lands,  occupying  the  place  of  better  kinds. 

Another  species,  M.  Mexieana,  is  very  similar  in  all  respects. 
A  large  area  must  be  mowed  and  a  huge  bulk  of  these  grasses  ac- 
cumulated to  obtain  a  considerable  weight  of  hay. 

The  several  other  species  are  of  too  little  agricultural  value 
to  merit  special  notice. 

C  A  L  A  M  AGROSTIS. 

C.  CANADENSIS,  Blue  Joint  Grass,  grows  in  bogs,  reclaimed 
marshes  and  moist  meadows  in  many  parts  of  the  eastern,  north- 
ern States  and  about  lake  Superior.  The  culms  are  from  3  to  5 
feet  high.  On  soil  suited  to  it,  its  growth  is  rank  and  luxuriant 
and  it  yields  an  immense  quantity  of  hay.  It  is  greedily  eaten 
by  stock.  I  am  not  aware  that  this  grass  has  ever  been  tried  j 
on  any  of  the  bogs  or  wet  lands  of  the  south.  Our  southern 
species,  C.  eoarcatata,  or  glaucous  small  reed  grass  is  rare,  grows 
in  swamps  and  has  attracted  no  attention,  The  C.  arenaria, 
beach  grass,  mat  grass,  sea-sand  reeds  grass,  of  no  agricultural 
interest  directly,  is  yet  very  valuable  in  many  parts  of  the  world, 
doing  what  King  Canute  could  not.  Only  two  or  three  feet 
high,  its  roots  20  to  30  feet  long,  are  full  of  tubers,  strong,  and 
bind  the  sands  and  hold  them  against  the  action  of  winds  and 
waves  and  thus  prevent  the  encroachment  of  the  seas.  It  has 
been  the  subject  of  much  legislation,  municipal,  State  and  na- 
tional, on. both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  ocean  ;  and  much  property 
has  been  saved  by  a  judicious  planting  of  this  grass,  in  the  east- 
ern States. 


40  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

SPARTINA.     Marsh  Grass. 

In  the  south  are  four  species  growing  in  brackish  marshes. 
These,  especially  8.  polystachia  with  culms  4  to  9  feet  high  and 
leaves  J  to  1 J  inches  wide,  furnish  in  spring  and  summer  a  large 
quantity  of  green  forage,  esteemed  very  valuable.  But  they 
can  be  grown  only  on  limited  areas  and  are  of  so  doubtful  util- 
ity that  more  special  notice  is  not  demanded. 

AGROSTIS. 

1.  A.  VULGARIS,  Red  Top  Grass.     This  is  the  bent  grass  of 
England,  the  herd  grass  of  the  southern  States;  not  in  honor  of 
any  man,  but  probably  because  so  well  adapted  to  the  herd.     It 
is  called  also  line  top,  Burden's   and   Borden's  grass.     Varying 
greatly  in  characters  according  to  soil,  location,  climate  and  cul- 
ture, some  botanists  have  styled  it  A.  polymorpha.     It  grows  two 
to  three  feet  high  and  I  have  mown  it  when  four  feet  high.     It 
grows  well  on  hill  tops  and  sides,  in  ditches,  gullies  and  marsh- 
es ;  but  delights   in  moist   bottom    land.     It   is  not  injured   by 
overflows  though  somewhat  prolonged.     In  marshy  land,  it  pro- 
duces a  very  dense,  strong  net  work  of  roots   capable  of  sustain- 
ing the*  weight  of  men  and  animals  walking  over  it. 

It  furnishes  considerable  grazing  during  warm  'spells'  in  win- 
ter, and  in  spring  and  summer  an  abundant  supply  of  nutrition. 
It  has  a  tendency,  being  very  hardy,  to  increaee  in  density  of 
growth  and  extent  of  surface,  and  will  continue  indefinitely, 
though  easily  subdued  by  the  plow. 

Cut  before  maturing  seed,  it  makes  a  good  hay  and  large 
quantity.  It  seems  to  grow  taller  in  the  southern  States,  than  it 
does  further  north,  and  to  make  more  and  better  hay  and  grazing. 
It  and  timothy  being  adapted  to  the  same  soils  and  maturing  at 
the  same  time  do  well  together  and  produce  an  excellent  hay. 
But  the  red  top  will  finally  root  out  the  timothy — if  pastured 
much  it  will  do  so  sooner. 

Sow  about  two  bushels  (24  Ibs.)  per  acre,  if  alone,  in  Septem- 
ber, October,  February  or  March  ;  if  with  timothy  for  hay,  from 
6  to  10  pounds ;  if  with  other  grasses  for  pasture,  3  to  5  pounds. 
It  is  an  excellent  pasture  grass,  and  will  grow  on  almost  any 
kind  of  soil. 

2.  A.  ALBA.  White  top,  dew  grass,  bonnet  grass,  has  become 
naturalized  in  some  of  our  southern  swamps.     In  similar  local- 
ities we  have  also  3.  A.  perennans  and  4.  A.  elata,    (A.   dispar, 
Mich.)  The  latter  or  southern  bent  grass,  is  stouter,  has^broader 
leaves,  and  more   numerous    creeping  roots  and  furnishes  more 
grazing  and  hay  but  coarser  than  the  true  red  top.     It  deserves 
the  attention  of  those  having  lands   adapted  to    it.     On  sterile 
lands  now  and  then  may  be  seen  5.  A.  scabra,  hair  grass,  tickle 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          41 

grass,  more  curious  than  valuable.  Its  large,  loose,  delicate 
panicles  when  dry,  break  off  and  sail  away  on  the  wind.  It  is 
hence  called  fly-away  grass. 

6.  A.  STOLONIFERA,  var.  LATIFOLIA,  larged  leaved  creeping 
bent  grass,  or  Florin,  Faureen  of  Ireland,  has  attracted  much 
attention  in  that  country  as  yielding  large  crops  of  hay,  from 
four  to  seven  tons  per  acre.  Those  who  have  marshes  otherwise 
useless,  would  probably  find  their  profit  in  introducing  this 
grass. 

CYNODON. 

C.  DACTYLON.  Bermuda  Grass.  This  plant  is  called  also 
scutch  grass,  dog's  tooth  grass,  (a  literal  translation  of  Cynodon,) 
wire  grass.  Messrs.  Darlington  and  Thurber  quote  Sir  James 
Edward  Smith,  the  botanical  editor  of  Rees'  Cyclopedia,  as  say- 
ing, in  the  article  PANICUM  dactylon,  that  "This  grass  was  per- 
ceived by  Mr.  Lambert  to  be  no  other  than  the  Agrostis  linearis 
of  Koenig,  Retzius  and  Wilkkvuow, — the  Durva  of  the  Hindoos, 
—which  the  late  Sir  William  Jones,  in  the  fourth  volume  of  the 
Asiatic  Researches,  has  celebrated  for  the  extraordinary  beauty 
of  its  flowers,  audits  sweetness  and  nutritious  quality  as  pasture 
for  cattle."  This  points  to  Hindostan  as  the  native  land  of  Ber- 
muda grass.  Yet  London,  on  the  authority  of  the  English  Bot- 
anist in  36  volumes  by  this  same  Sir  James  Edward  Smith  and 
James  Sowerby,  claims  that  it  is  a  native  of  England.  Here 
seems  to  be  a  clash  between  Smith's  Cyclopedia  article  and  his 
Botany.  London's  description  is  clearly  that  of  Bermuda  grass, 
or  as  he  has  it,  Cynodon  dactylon.  In  the  next  line  he  gives 
Cynodon  linearis,  as  native  of  the  East  Indies  and  introduced 
into  England  in  1796.  His  description  of  this  plant  does  not 
at  all  suit  Bermuda  grass.  He  says  further,  Cynodon  linearis, 
the  Agrostis  linearis  of  Koenig,  is  the  famous  durva  grass  of  the 
Hindoos,  for  which,  see  Lambert  in  the  Linn,  trans.  VII,  No. 
22.  v^ 

In  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Report  for  1878,  Messrs. 
Geo.  Vasey,  Botanist,  and  Peter  Collier,  Chemist,  state  that 
''This  grass  is  a  native  of  Europe,  and  is  abundantly  naturalized 
in  many  other  countries.  It  is  said  to  be  a  common  pasture 
grass  in  the  West  Indies."  Hence  I  think  it  clearly  evident  that 
Bermuda  grass  is  neither  the  sacred  Durva  of  the  Hindoos,  nor 
a  native  of  Hindostan,  nor  what  Mr.  Howard  in  his  pamphlet 
calls  "the  celebrated  Daub  sacred  grass  of  India."  It  seems  ev- 
ident to  me  that  Smith  in  the  Cyclopedia  article  inadvertently 
substituted  the  C.  linearis  for  C.  dactylon,  and  hence  all  the  er- 
rors about  it  since  the,  publication  of  Rees'  Cyclopedia.  Since 
the  above  was  written;  I  read  in  the  American  Agriculturist  for 
1880,  page  64,  "Bermuda  grass,  or  Scutch  grass  in  our  southern 


42  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

States,  Creeping  Dog's-tooth  grass  in  England,  Chiendent  in 
France,  and  Doob  or  Durva  in  the  East  Indies,  are  different  com- 
mon names  for  the  grass  called  by  botanists  Oynodon  dactylon" 

This  writer  continues  : — "In  one  respect  it  is  the  most  remark- 
able grass  within  our  knowledge,  as  one  can  with  equal  ease  find 
that  it  is  the  most  valuable  of  all  the  grasses,  and  one  that  is  to 
restore  worn-out  southern  fields,  and  bring  untold  blessings 
wherever  introduced,  or  that  on  the  other  hand  that  it  is  a  curse 
to  the  soil,  and  that  when  this  once  gets  a  footing  upon  a  farm, 
the  owner  may  as  well  give  it  up  at  once,  as  to  do  so  at  the  end 
of  a  struggle  in  which  he  is  sure  to  be  worsted."  One  side  or  the 
other  may  be  true  as  one's  stand  point  may  be  different  from  that 
of  another.  It  without  previous  preparation  of  the  land,  one 
breaks  it  up  while  well  set  with  this  grass  and  plants  his  crop,  he 
will  find  it  indeed  an  unmitigated  curse  in  the  management  of 
his  crop.  If  on  the  other  hand  he  needs  it  as  a  pasture  and  hay 
grass  and  renovator  of  the  soil  he  will  pronounce  it  as  nearly  as 
can  be  an  unmixed  blessing. 

Sixty  years  ago  Mr.  Elliott  said  very  justly,  of  this  grass,  it  is 
"tender,  delicate,  growing  over  and  binding  the  most  arid  and 
loose  sands  in  our  country,  and  apparently  preferred  by  stock  of 
all  descriptions  to  every  other  grass."  The  last  portion  of  this 
statement  has  been  verified  annually  for  the  last  thirty  years  on 
a  common  three  miles  west  of  Woodville,  Mississippi,  hundreds 
of  animals  feeding  there  on  this  grass  summer  and  winter.  This 
is  true  also  of  localities  on  the  St.  Catharine  bottoms  near  Nat- 
chez and  hundreds  of  other  places. 

Mr.  Elliott  adds  "The  cultivation  of  this  grass  on  the  poor 
and  extensive  sand  hills  of  our  middle  country  would  probably 
convert  them  into  sheep  walks  of  great  value ;  but  it  grows  in 
every  soil,  and  no  grass  in  close,  rich  land  is  more  formidable 
to  the  cultivator  ;  it  must  therefore  be  introduced  with  caution." 
Thousands  can  confirm  this  statement  also.  Yet  I  know  farm- 
ers who  take  pains  to  introduce  and  retain  it  on  their 'cultivated, 
'close,  rich  lands.'  But  they  keep  it  under  sufficient  subjection 
to  interfere  but  little  with  cultivation;  and  they  think  that  by 
preventing  the  land  from  washing  and  improving  it  otherwise, 
this  grass  more  than  pays  for  the  little  additional  expense  of  cul- 
ture. But  a  poor  manager  or  indolent  planter  would  do  well  to 
keep  it  out  of  his  cultivated  fields. 

As  a  permanent  pasture  grass,  I  know  no  other  that  I  consid- 
er so  valuable  as  this,  after  having  transplanted  it  from  near 
the  mouth  of  Red  River  to  my  present  residence  thirty-five 
years  ago  and  having  studied  it  on  hundreds  of  other  farms, 
commons  and  levees  for  a  longer  period.  Under  the  head  of 
Blue  grass  I  give  in  a  table  the  comparative  quantities  of  nutri- 
tive matter  of  the  two  grasses,  the  analysis  showing  the  Bermu- 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS. 


43 


da  to  contain  more  than  the  Blue  grass.     Here    is  in  more  de- 
tail, Mr.  Collier's  proximate  analysis  of  Cynodon  dactylon  : 


Oil, 

Wax, 

Sugars, 

Gum  and  dextrin, 

Cellulose, 

Amylaceous  cellulose, 

Alkali  extracts, 

Albuminoids, 

Ash, 


100.00 


From  Alabama. 

1.23 
.36 

8.17 

3.59 
23.57 
29.30 
12.23 
13.59 

7.96 

100.00 


ANALYSIS  OP  ASH. 


Potassium, 
Potassium  oxide, 
Sodium, 
Sodium  oxide, 
Calcium  oxide, 
Magnesium  oxide, 
Sulphuric  acid, 
Phosphoric  acid, 
Silicic  acid, 
Chlorine, 


From  Georgia. 

6.66 
22.99 


13.44 
5.00 
9.37 
6.20 

30.29 
6.05 


100.00 


From  Alabama. 

9.61 

22.89 

.42 


100.00 


As  hay  this  grass  has  been  cured  and  held  in  high  esteem  by 
many  farmers  in  Mississippi  for  more  than  forty  years.  The 
late  Mr.  Thomas  Affleck  of  Texas,  but  for  many  years  a  well 
known  planter  of  Mississippi,  with  characteristic  Scotch  thrift 
promptly  recognized  the  value  of  this  grass,  largely  profited  by 
it,  and,  as  long  as  he  lived,  by  mouth  and  pen  inculcated  its 
great  worth  for  pasture  and  hay,  himself  making  five  tons  per 
acre  of  the  latter.  Dr,  Ravenelby  the  aid  of  nitrate  of  soda  ob- 
tained at  the  rate  of  ten  tons  per  acre  on  a  lot  near  Charleston, 
S.  C.  Many  other  examples  could  be  given  as  to  the  quantity 
of  hay  cut  from  this  grass  and  innumerable  testimonials  as  to 
its  nutritive  value.  Having  grown  this  grass  only  on  worn 
hill  lands  without  fertilizers  my  crops  have  of  course  not  been 
so  heavy  as  those  mentioned ;  but  they  have  been  entirely  satis- 


44  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

factory.  On  good  soil  it  covers  the  ground  densely  several  in- 
ches deep  with  its  prostrate  stems  and  dense  leafage  which  is 
always  moist  even  in  dry  weather. 

It  does  not  bear  dense  shade,  and  when  grown  in  shade  is, 
like  other  plants,  much  less  nutritious.  It  grows  best  where 
most  exposed  to  the  intensest  heat  of  the  sun.  It  bears  drought 
better  perhaps  than  any  other  of  our  grasses.  But  its  under- 
ground roots  or  stems  being  near  the  surface  and  hogs  being 
very  fond  of  them  in  dry  weather,  at  such  times,  if  these  ani- 
mals are  confined  to  small  lots  of  this  grass,  they  eat  every  root 
and  thus  exterminate  the  grass.  I  have  seen  this  occur  more 
than  once  to  my  own  serious  detriment. 

As  a  fertilizer  it  is  one  of  the  best.  Being  always  moist  and, 
where  the.growlh  is  vigorous,  studded  writh  dew  drops  under- 
neath throughout  the  dryest,  hottest  days ;  air  enmeshed  in  large 
quantity,  as  in  the  packings  for  ice,  in  its  densely  tangled  and 
packed  masses  seems  to  keep  the  carpeted  earth  cool  and  moist 
in  hot  weather  and  warm  in  cold  weather.  Hence  the  continu- 
ous, ceaseless  absorption,  condensation  and  storage  of  plant  food 
from  the  atmosphere  in  the  roots,  and  subjacent  soil.  Nor  is 
this  all ;  perhaps  not  its  most  important  influence  in  fertilizing 
the  soil.  At  any  rate  a  more  remote  or  secondary  effect,  though 
so  far  as  I  am  aware  wholly  ignored,  is  of  no  little  importance1 
in  arriving  at  its  value  as  a  fertilizer.  It  is  well  known  that 
earth  worms  have  the  power  under  certain  conditions  of  impro- 
ving and  elevating  the  soil,  and  even  making  soil  where  there 
is  none,  by  elaborating  materials  from  the  subsoil  and  atmos- 
phere and  depositing  on  the  surface  the  manufactured  fertilizer. 
I  have  often  looked  with  wonder  and  admiration  at  the  vast 
amount  of  this  kind  of  beneficent  work  performed  by  these  little 
creatures  in  a  single  night. 

A  piece  of  ground  well  coated  with  this  grass  is  the  paradise 
of  these  worms — rather  the  cheerful  laboratory  of  these  indus- 
trious little  manufacturers  of  fertilizers.  Many  may  be  surpri- 
sed to  learn  that  here  on  any  pleasant  night  and  often  day,  the 
sounds  emanating  from  the  industrial  works  of  these  pigmies 
may  be  distinctly  heard.  With  all  their  might,  little  individal- 
ly  it  is  true,  but  in  the  combination  of  vast  numbers  mighty,  they 
are  constructing  soil  for  the  intelligent  farmer. 

Nor  is  this  all;  their  bodies  are  made  up  very  largely  of  al- 
buminoids,— the  best  plant  food, — and  these  as  the  successive 
generations  die  are  added  to  the  soil.  I  will  not  stop  to  men- 
tion other  benefits  bestowed  on  the  soil  by  other  kinds  of  labor 
of  this  industrial  hive.  But  I  must  not  omit  another  good 
growing  out  of  the  presence  of  these  worms. 

Such  a  Bermuda  grass  meadow  as  that  described  is  in  summer 
a  paradise  for  pigs  too, — not  merely  for  the  grass,  the  Value  of 
which  all  recognize,  and  which  the  pigs  enjoy,  but  the  benefit 


FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  (TRASSES  45 

and  enjoyment  are  doubled  by  the  animal  food  so  much  craved 
by  hogs  and  furnished  by  these  worms  in  ample  supply.  The 
pigs  literally  revel  among  the  tender  grass  and  tender  luscious 
worms  as  the  human  animal  delights  in  his  green  peas,  mutton 
and  fat  oysters  in  March  and  April. 

Treating  this  grass  from  an  agricultural  stand  point  I  need 
only  mention  its  utility  in  binding  together  and  holding  levees 
of  sand  and  loose  soil  against  floods  of  water,  its  preventing  lands 
from  washing  and  its  filling  gullies,  in  all  which  its  value  is 
inestimable. 

Mr.  Howard  in  his  manual  gives  the  views  of  Col.  Lane,  who 
states  that  thirty  years  before,  he  had  purchased  an  old  planta- 
tion cheap  because  infested  in  places  with  this  grass.  He  per- 
mitted a  man  to  occupy  thirty  acres  of  it  five  or  six  years.  The 
man  had  a  cow  and  calf,  sow  and  pigs,  and  a  brood  mare.  He 
cultivated  a  little  corn  never  making  enough  to  feed  his  fami- 
ly. For  the  increase  of  live  stock  in  this  short  time  grown  on 
this  grass  almost  wholly,  Col.  L.  offered  him  $1,000.  To  show 
the  value  of  this  grass  as  a  fertilizer,  Col.  L.,  after  the  man  left, 
cultivated  this  thirty  acres  of  land.  "The  first  crop,  cotton, 
half  stand,  owing  to  the  mass  of  undecomposed  sod,  eighteen 
hundred  pounds  of  seed  cotton  per  acre.  Second  crop,  cotton, 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  pounds  seed  cotton  per  acre.  Third 
crop,  corn,  sixty-five  bushels  per  acre — corn  manured  with  cot- 
ton seed.  Fourth  crop,  wheat,  forty -two  bushels  per  acre.  The 
average  product  of  this  land  without  the  sod,  would  have  been 
not  more  than  one  hundred  pounds  of  seed  cotton,  fifteen  to  twen- 
ty bushels  of  corn,  and  eight  to  ten  of  wheat.  I  know  of  no 
crop  that  will  improve  land  more,  and  certainly  none  that  will, 
at  the  same  time,  give  so  large  an  income  with  so  little  labor." 

Mr.  Howard  gives  equally  strong  testimony  from  others. 
And  I  have  seen  commons  set  with  this  grass,  on  which  hun- 
dreds of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  sheep  and  goats  were  running  con- 
stantly the  year  round,  mowed  year  after  year  and  the  hay  sold 
for  two  to  four  times  as  much  as  any  cultivated  crops  produced  at 
five  times  the  cost  in  the  vicinity  on  similar  land  could  be  sold 
for. 

But  this  grass  has  its  disadvantages  too  and  sometimes  no  doubt 
kills  pigs  and  possibly  other  young  animals.  If  not  frequently 
grazed  or  mowed  during  summer,  the  stems  become  hard,  wiry, 
and  full  of  indigestible  woody  fibre  in  the  fall.  This  sometimes 
becomes  impacted  in  the  bowels  of  young  animals  and  thus 
kills  them.  To  make  good  pasture  it  must  be  kept  well  trod- 
den and  grazed  to  keep  it  tender,  digestible  and  nutritious 
and  to  suppress  othar  objectionable  grasses  and  weeds ;  other- 
wise broom  grass,  briers  and  other  weeds  will  in  a  few  years  de- 
stroy it. 


4fi  FAKMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

To  make  good  hay  and  the  largest  yield,  this  grass  must  be 
mowed  from  three  to  five  times  every  summer.  Thus  briers, 
broom  grass  and  other  weeds  are  also  repressed  and  prevented 
from  seeding,  multiplying  and  ruining  the  meadow.  Properly 
managed  this  grass  grows  from  ten  to  fifteen  inches  high. 

It  may  be  known  from  other  grasses  similar  in  appearance; 
when  in  bloom  by  the  stem  bearing  at  the  top  from  three  to  five 
digitate  spikes  ;  and  at  all  times  by  having  two  leaves  to  each 
joint,  frequently  three  and  sometimes  four ;  while  no  other  grass 
of  like  appearance  has  more  than  one  leaf  to  the  joint.  The 
sheaths  of  the  alternating  leaves  are  so  close-fitting  and  project 
one  beyond  another  in  such  a  way  that  unless  these  are  stripped 
off  one  would  think  there  was  a  joint  to  each  leaf. 

Propagation.  This  grass  having  but  one  fertile  flower  to  each 
spikelet  and  one  flower  in  a  hundred,  a  thousand,  or  million 
perhaps  maturing  seed  in  this  country;  trying  to  save  the  min- 
ute seed  from  it  would  be  as  bootless  as  seeking  "a  grain  of 
wheat  in  a  bushel  of  chaff,"  or  "a  needle  in  the  hay  stack."  I 
am  convinced  and  have  long  insisted  that  it  matures  some  seed  ; 
and  there  are  many  facts  tending  to  establish  this  opinion.  But 
these  seed  are  so  few,  however,  that  practically  they  art4  agri- 
culturally as  if  they  were  not.  Hence  we  have  no  means  with- 
in our  own  country  of  propagating  it  except  by  cuttings  of  tlu1 
underground  stems  and  the  superficial  runners. 

These  may  be  prepared  by  taking  up  the  sod  of  any  conve- 
nient size  with  a  thickness  of  about  two  inches  of  soil  adhering. 
Turn  the  pieces  grass  side  down  and  with  a  sharp  spade  cut 
rapidly  through  the  sod  two  ways  so  as  to  make  pieces  one  or 
two  inches  square.  Set  the  pieces  right  side  up  in  the  intersect- 
ions of  small  shallow  furrows  made  two  feet  apart  each  way 
with  a  coulter  or  narrow  opener,  on  the  previously  prepared 
land.  The  soil  may  be  adjusted  to  the  pieces  by  means  of  the 
hoe  or  by  a  very  light  furrow  from  a  narrow  shovel.  With  a 
few  light  plowings  the  land  will  soon  be  fully  occupied  by  the 
grass.  Some  prefer  washing  all  the  soil  from  the  sods  and  then 
passing  them  through  a  cutting  box.  The  pieces  are  then  scat- 
tered over  the  prepared  land  and  plowed  in.  In  either  plan  af- 
ter planting,  passing  a  roller  over  the  ground  will  benefit. 

Destroying.  1st.,  Keep  stock  from  it  and  leave  it  alone. 
Broom  grass,  briers,  and  weeds  in  a  few  years  will  destroy  it. 
This  plan  is  not  good  farming.  2nd.,  It  roots  two  inches  deep. 
When  expecting  a  drought  in  summer,  turn  up  the  soil  from  a 
depth  of  two  inches;  best  turned  edgewise  and  not  upside  down; 
after  a  tew  days'  drying  run  a  toothed  rotary  harrow  over  sev- 
eral times  in  every  direction.  Thus  most  of  the  soil  will  be 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  47 

shaken  from  the  roots ;  these  will  be  in  little  piles  and  may  be 
easily  forked  into  larger  ones  and  burned  or  hauled  away,  to  set 
other  lands  or  otherwise  disposed  of.  This  also  is  bad  practice 
unless  the  operation  is  performed  late,  say  in  August  or  Septem- 
ber and  the  ground  immediately  sown  with  small  grain,  as 
wheat,  oats  or  barley ;  or  done  early,  say  June,  and  the  ground 
sown  with  peas  broadcast  before  harrowing,  as  thus  the  peas 
would  be  covered  by  the  same  process  which  clears  the  land  of 
the  grass  roots.  Then  in  October  the  peas  should  be  followed 
by  small  grain — barley  preferably  if  to  be  harvested,  as  the 
other  grains  would  probably  grow  too  tall.  In  the  spring  the 
barley  would  be  harvested  in  time  to  be  followed  by  cotton, 
corn  or  potatoes,  either  of  which  would  afford  an  abundant  har- 
vest. 

3.  A  third  plan  is  to  turn  the  sod  with  two  inches  of  earth  up 
edgewise  in  the   winter.     A    few  freezes  will  kill  most  of  the 
roots  and  at  dry  times  these  may  be  collected  by  the  rotary  har- 
row.    Or  without  the  harrowing  the  ground  may  be  bedded  in 
the  spring  for  cotton.     The  grass  will  give  little  trouble  and  two 
years'  neat  culture  in   cotton    will    clear  the  land   of  Bermuda 
grass.     From  this  it  may  be  seen  how  my  friends  who  keep  this 
grass  on  their  cultivated  lands  manage  it  (not  allowing  too  clean 
culture)  and  make  better  crops  than  those  who  keep  it  off  their 
lands. 

4.  Unless  plenty  of  stock  is  kept  on  this  grass  from  April  till 
autumnal  frosts,  as  intimated  on  another  page,  where  Lespedeza 
striata  grows  well,  it  will  exterminate  the  Bermuda  grass. 


ELEUSINE. 


E.  INDICA,  Yard  Grass. 

This  is  called  also  crop  grass,  crab  grass,  wire  grass,  dog's-tooth 
grass  and  crow-foot  grass.  All  these  names  applied  in  different 
localities  to  the  same  plant  and  in  other  localities  to  twenty  other 
plants  show  the  impossibility  of  identifying  plants  by  their  pop- 
ular names.  The  flexibility,  toughness  and  strength  of  the 
culms  well  entitle  it  to  the  name  of  wire  grass.  The  clumps 
have  many  long  leaves  and  stems  rising  one  or  two  feet  high  and 
many  long,  strong,  deeply  penetrating  fibrous  roots.  It  grows 
readily  in  door  yards,  barn  yards  and  rich  cultivated  grounds, 
and  produces  an  immense  quantity  of  seeds.  It  is  a  very  nutri- 
tious grass  and  good  for  grazing,  soiling  and  hay.  The  succu- 
lent lower  part  of  the  stems  covered  with  the  sheaths  of  the 
leaves  renders  it  difficult  to  cure  well,  for  which  several  days 
are  required.  It  may  be  cut  two  or  three  times  and  yields  a 
large  quantity  of  hay. 


48 


FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  Git  ASS  EH 


Mr.  Collier's   analyses  of  samples  from  three  States    follows: 


Oil, 
Wax, 

Sugars, 

Gum  and  dextrin, 

Cellulose, 

Amylaceous  cellulose, 

Alkali  extract, 

Albuminoids, 

Ash, 


Texas,  Georgia.  Alabama. 

1.78  1.72  2.27 

.38  .35  .29 

11.92  13.29  8.69 

6.33  5.84  4.98 

31.29  22.38  21.53 

25.46  26.37  21.97 

.00  10.44  20.97 

13.72  13.28  12.23 

9.12  6.32  1&J 

100.00  100.00  100.00 
ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 


Potassium, 
Potassium  oxide, 
Sodium, 
Sodium  oxide, 
Calcium  oxide, 
Magnesium  oxide, 
Sulphuric  acid, 
Phosphoric  acid, 
Silicic  acid, 
Chlorine, 


Texas. 

9.52 

10.27 

1.26 

10.27 

4.10 

4.24 

2.69 

47.56 

10.09 


Georgia. 

7.39 
24.79 


Alabama. 

4.55 

30.98 
3.55 

11.10 
5.57 

8.55 

9.84 

*  16.25 

9.61 


100.00  100.00  100.00 

A  few  planters  encourage  the  growth  of  this  grass  on  lots 
specially  assigned  to  it  and  mow  regularly  one,  two  or  more 
tons  per  acre  per  annum. 

DACTYLOCTENUIM. 

D.  EGYPTIACUM,  Crow-foot  Grass.  This  grass  very  much 
resembles  the  Eleusine  in  general  appearance  and  character, 
though  not  quite  so  nutritious  and  nice.  The  culms  ascend 
•from  a  creeping  base,  bearing,  at  the  top,  usually  four  spikes 
awn-pointed,  and  one  or  two  inches  long,  the  spikelets  three- 
flowered.  The  upper  glume  is  awn-pointed  and  palets  pointed. 
The  flattened  culm  of  Eleusine  bears  from  two  to  many  spikes 
two  to  five  inches  long,  the  lower  ones  scattered,  spikelets  six- 
flowered,  glumes  and  palets  pointless.  Mr.aCollier's  analysis  is 
subjoined : 


Oil,  1.64 

Wax,  .32 

Sugars,  10.96 

Gum  and  dextrin,  5.60 

Cellulose,  17.48. 


Amylaceous  cellulose, 
Alkali  extract, 
Albuminoids, 
Ash, 


31.63 

16.46 

9.01 

6.90 

H/0.0'0 


AND  OTHEK  FORAGE  PLANTS. 
ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 


Potassium, 
Potassium  oxide, 
Sodium, 
Sodium  oxide, 
Calcium  oxide, 
Magnesium  oxide, 


7.50 
21.20 


20.67 
6.91 


Sulphuric  acid, 
Phosphoric  acid, 
Silicic  acid, 
Chlorine, 


49 


4.42 

8.37 

24.17 

6.76 

100.00 


LEPTOCHLOA. 


L.  MUCRONATA,  Feather  Grass. 

This  grass  is  an  annual,  having  long,  broad,  rough  leaves 
with  hairy  sheaths,  and  culms  two  to  three  or  more  feet  high, 
the  latter  terminating  in  panicles  one  or  two  feet  long,  with 
many  slender  elongated  branches,  bearing  the  small  spikelets — 
altogether  presenting  a  peculiarly  light  feathery  appearance  of 
great  beauty.  It  grows  on  cultivated  lands  and  especially 
where  Eleusine  grows  well.  Its  growth  is  very  rapid,  although 
it  has  little  root  and  it  is  easily  uprooted. 

.  After  its  attractiveness  to  the  eye  and  roughness  to  the  touch, 
the  next  most  striking  property  of  this  grass  is  its  lightness  even 
in  its  greenest  state.  Although  it  contains  a  good  per  centage 
of  nutritious  matters,  it  is  of  little  agricultural  value.  Its  as- 
surgent  leaves  and  stems  and  immensely  large  panicles  occupy 
so  much  space  that  a  comparatively  small  number  of  plants 
would  occupy  an  acre  of  land,  while  it  has  so  little  weight  that 
the  product  of  several  acres  of  the  finest  growth  of  it  would  be 
required  to  produce  a  single  ton  of  hay.  Stock  eat  it  with  rel- 
ish when  unmixed  ;  but  in  grazing  horses  reject  it  among  other 
grasses.  Here  follows  Mr.  Collier's 


ANALYSIS  OF  LEPTOCHLOA  MUCRONATA  : 


Oil, 
Wax, 

Sugars, 

Gum  and  dextrin, 

Cellulose, 


Potassium, 
Potassium  oxide, 
Sodium, 
Sodium  oxide, 
Calcium  oxide, 
Magnesium  oxide 


1.68 

.40 

7.33 

6.41 

32.16 


Amylaceous  cellulose, 
Alkali  extract, 
Albuminoids, 
Ash, 


ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

1.81         Sulphuric  acid, 
20.21         Phosphoric  acid, 
.80         Silicic  acid, 

Chlorine, 
5.94 

2.66         ::V^J 


23.69 
11.55 

7.80 


100.00 


3.31 

6.46 

55.92 

2.89 

100.00 


50  FARMER'S   BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

BUCHLOA. 

B.  DACTYLOIDES.  Buffalo  Grass. 

Mr.  S.  B.  Buckley  of  Austin,  Texas,  makes  the  following 
statements  about  this  grass : 

"This  is  one  of  the  best  grasses  of  Texas  for  pasturage,  if  not 
the  very  best ;  being  perennial,  it  affords  food  tor  stock  both 
summer  and  winter.  Even  in  midwinter  it  presents  a  green 
covering  over  many  hills  and  prairies  in  this  vicinity.  It  is  al- 
so the  best  grass  for  lawns  indigenous  to  Texas.  It  is  not  con- 
fined to  the  State,  but  extends  over  the  western  plains  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  as  far  north  as  Missouri,  and  perhaps  farther. 
It  thrives  on  every  variety  of  soil,  growing  on  poor,  gravelly 
uplands,  and  also  in  rich  river  bottoms,  but  it  mostly  abounds 
on  the  prairies  among  the  mesquit  trees,  scattered  over  their 
surface  throughout  a  large  portion  of  our  State,  whence  it  is 
commonly  called  mesquit  grass  in  Texas.  This  name,  however, 
is  given  to  two  or  three  other  species  of  grass  which  are  often  as- 
sociated with  it.  On  the  western  plains  it  is  known  by  the 
name  of  buffalo  grass,  hence  its  botanic  name  (Buchloa.) 

"It  seldom  grows  more  than  six  or  eight  inches  in  height,  in 
flowering  stems,  but  its  leaves  are  long.  It  also  grows  by  sto- 
lons or  runners,  by  which  means  it  extends  rapidly  and  soon 
covers  the  surface.  Unlike  most  grasses  it  is  dioacious,  that  is, 
it  has  male  and  female  flowers  on  different  stems ;  the  female 
flowers  and  seed  are  near  the  root,  and  seldom  seen  or  noticed 
unless  search  is  made  for  them.  On  this  account  its  true  nature 
was  long  unknown  to  botanists,  its  male  flowers  only  having 
been  collected.  I  have  been  told  by  many  people  in  Texas  that 
it  does  not  bear  seed.  When  in  flower  it  can  easily  be  known 
from  every  other  species  of  mesquit  by  its  upright  staminate  or 
sterile  flowering  stems,  with  one  or  two  short,  horizontally  ex- 
tending branches,  one  or  two  inches  long,  densely  crowded  with 
yellowish  brown  florets. 

"The  Buchloa  is  not  difficult  to  eradicate,  nor  is  it  ever 
troublesome  in  cultivated  fields,  because  it  has  so  few  seeds.  No 
one  need  fear  introducing  it  on  his  plantation,  either  for  lawns 
or  pasturage.  All  kinds  of  stock  are  extremely  fond  of  it,  from 
which  we  infer  that  it  is  very  sweet  and  nutritious.  To  the  peo- 
ple of  Texas  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  valuable  grasses  for 
pasturage,  yielding  as  it  does  an  abundance  of  food  both  winter 
and  summer,  nor  do  the  droughts  of  summer  hurt  its  vitality. 
In  extreme  droughts  often  all  the  grasses  seem  dead,  but  a  rain 
will  make  this  mesquit  grass  green  and  growing  in  a  few  hours. 
Even  when  dry,  weather-beaten  and  seemingly  dead,  it  is  still 
good  food  for  stock." 

Mr.  H.  W.  Ravenel  writes  of  this  grass  as  follows :  "This 
remarkable  grass  is  found  'in  the  Western  prairies,  from  the  Brit- 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          51 

ish  Possessions  throughout  to  Missouri  Territory,  Nebraska, 
Kansas  and  New  Mexico,  down  to  Texas  and  North  Mexico/ 
and  wrell  known  to  herdsmen  and  hunters  under  the  name  of 
Buffalo  grass.  I  saw  it  in  1869  in  Texas,  growing  abundantly 
a  few  miles  from  Corpus  Christi,  and  in  the  prairies  near  In- 
dianola;  and  it  was  there  called  'Meskit  grass.7  It  was  represent- 
ed as  one  of  their  best  pasture  grasses  for  their  herds  of  cattle, 
nutritious  and  always  preferred  by  animals  to  any  other. 

"The  grass  has  the  peculiarity  (possessed  by  very  few  other 
grasses)  of  bearing  its  male  and  female  flowers  on  separate  plants, 
(and  called  in  botany  dioecious.) 

"The  male  plants  are  the  largest,  growing  from  six  to  twelve 
inches  high,  and  being  most  conspicuous,  are  those  most  fre- 
quently seen  and  noticed.  They  grow  in  dense  tufts,  and  from 
these  send  out  their  shoots. 

"The  true  Mesket  grass  is  Bouteloua  hirsuta,  growing  also  in 
the  Western  Prairies." 

The  buffalo  grass  certainly  should  be  more  widely  cultivated 
on  our  southern  waste  lands,  lawns,  and  pastures.  It  is  often 
confounded  with 

BOUTELOUA,     Mesquit  Grass. 


Three  species  of  this  grass  grow  in  the  west,  and  are  known 
by  various  names,  as  gramma,  (not  gama  from  which  it  is  total- 
ly different)  mesquit,  ^ith  the  many  ways  of  spelling,  etc.  The 
bristly  mesquit  grows  abundantly  in  Texas  in  tufts  from  8  to  20 
inches  high.  It  is  a  valuable  grass  and  has  been  experimented 
with  in  many  parts  of  the  south  with  gratifying  results.  Per- 
haps the  other  two  species  have  also  been  tried  under  the  general 
name  of  mesquit.  But  this  name  has  been  applied  to  a  number 
of  other  grasses  and  caused  no  little  confusion.  Many  specimens 
of  so  called  mesquit  grass  have  been  sent  to  me  from  Texas  and 
from  several  other  states,  (the  seeds  having  been  first  obtained 
from  Texas)  and  in  every  instance  it  has  proved  to  be  Holcus 
la,natus,  velvet,  or  soft  meadow  grass.  And  it  is  this  velvet 
grass,  naturalized  in  Texas,  that  is  generally  cultivated  in  the 
southern  States  under  the  name  mesquit. 

EATONIA. 

1.  E.  PENNSYLVANIA.     Eaton's  Grass. 

The  Eatonias  are  slender,  erect,  tufted,  perennial  grasses  with 
narrow  leaves,  and  small,  smooth,  shining  spikelets  of  pale  flow- 
ers in  a  panicle.  In  this  species  the  panicle  is  slender,  loose ;  the 
two-  or  three-flowerd  spikelets  ;  scattered  on  the  slender  bran- 
ches ;  stems  one  or  two  feet  high,  flowering  in  April  and  found 


52  FAKMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

in  borders  of  woods.     Cattle  seem  to  relish  it  better  than  other 
grasses  growing  in  forests. 

2.  E.  OBTUSATA.  This  differs  from  the  preceding  in  having 
a  dense,  spike-like  panicle,  with  two-flowered  spikelets  much 
crowded  on  the  short,  erect  branches.  These  grasses  are  of  lit- 
tle agricultural  value.  In  Darby's  Botany  of  the  southern 
States,  they  are  mentioned  under  the  names  Aira  moUis  and  A. 
obtusata  respectively,  thus  classing  them  with  the  hair  yrames. 

MELIOA. 

M.  MUTICA,  Melic  Grass. 

This  perennial  grass  with  stems  one  or  two  feet  high  blooms 
in  April,  growing  in  dry,  open  woods.  Its  three-  to  five-flow- 
ered spikelets,  few,  nodding  and  arranged  in  a  loose,  simple- 
panicle.  Though  eaten  by  stock,  it  is  of  little  value.  The  M. 
diffusa  and  M.  Muhknberghia  are  similar  and  scarcely  worth 
mentioning. 

GLYCERIA. 

1.  G.  NERVATA,  Meadow  spear  Grass.  This  is  called  nerved 
manna  grass  also.  In  the  eastern  States,  some  farmers  call  it 
fowl  meadow  grass.  But  it  must  be  distinguished  from  Poa  ser- 
otina,  every  where  else  known  as  true  fowl  meadow- 
grass  arid  described  on  another  page.  It  has  a  creeping,  peren- 
nial root;  erect  stems,  two  or  three  feet  high  ;  diffuse  panicle, 
the  capillary  branches  at  length  drooping;  the  rachis  separating 
into  joints;  spikelets  rounded,  purplish,  five-  or  six-flowered, 
small;  leaves  in  two  rows  like  a  fan.  It  grows  naturally  in  wet 
swamps ;  but  will  succeed  on  good  upland  soil  also. 

Although  a  native,  nutritious  grass,  it  has  received  little  at- 
tention in  this  country.  Sinclair  in  the  Woburn  experiments, 
however,  made  some  remarkable  statements  in  regard  to  it  and 
held  it  in  high  esteem.  He  stated  that  in  February,  1814,  af- 
ter the  severe  preceding  winter,  this  grass  was  green  and  succu- 
lent, while  out  of  nearly  three  hundred  species  that  grewfcaround 
it  not  one  remained  healthy,  but  all  were  injured  and  rendered 
inferior  by  the  severe  weather. 

He  found  also  that  the  quantity  and  nutritive  quality  of  this 
grass  was  the  same  or  equal  whether  cut  at  the  time  of  flower- 
ing or  when  the  seed  were  ripe,  which  was  not  the  case  with 
any  other  grass  tested  at  that  time.  The  aftermath  was  also  re- 
markably valuable  ;  for  after  the  seed  mature,  it  sends  up  large 
fan-like  shoots  which  are  succulent  and  even  more  nutritious 
than  the  leaves.  It  is  certainly  worth  trying  on  our  marshy  or 
moist  lands.  It  blooms  in  June  and  July. 
j2.  G.  PALLIDA.  Pale  Manna  Grass,  grows  in  shallow  water, 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          o3 

with  perennial  roots :  culms  creeping  at  the  base,  one  to  three 
feet  long ,  panicle  erect,  narrow,  nearly  simple  ;  spikelets  round- 
ed, five-  to  nine-flowered,  half  inch  long,  pale,  leaves  short, 
sharp  pointed,  pale  green.  It  is  of  little  agricultural  value  from 
the  fact  that  although  nutritious,  it  cannot  be  mowed  or  culti- 
vated conveniently,  growing  as  it  does  in  water. 

3.  G.  FLTJITANS,  Common  Manna  Grass,  or  Floating  Manna 
Grass,  growing  in  shallow  water,    produces  culms  from  one   to 
five  feet  long  with  panicle  one  foot  long  in  June  or   July,  from 
the  perennial,  creeping   roots ;    leaves   long,  broadly  linear.     It 
differs  from  the  other  species  markedly  in  its  slender  long  pan- 
icle and  few  long  linear    spikelets.     It  grows  in   cultivation  on 
permanently  moist  lands,  and  its  yield  compares  favorably  with 
many  other  good  grasses.     It  is  cultivated  in  France  and  many 
other  portions  of  Europe.     The    seeds    whole  or    ground    into 
meal  or  flour  are    nourishing  and    used   in    soups  and  broths 
This  grass  is  eaten   with    avidity  by  horses,   cattle,    sheep  and 
swine,  and  the  seeds  by  birds. 

4.  G.   RIGIDA,  another  species  indigenous  also  to  the  southern 
States  and  growing  on  dry    soils,  seems  to   possess  little  value 
and  attract  no  attention. 

Several  other  species  o±  manna  grass  are  native  in  our  eastern 
and  northern  States;  but  none  of  them  native  or  cultivated  in 
the  south, except  the 

5.  G.  CANADENSIS,  Rattlesnake    grass   sometimes   found    in 
gardens.     It  has   a  long,   pyramidal,    spreading   panicle,    with 
handsome,    drooping  spikelets ;    has  the  general    appearance    of 
quaking  grass  ;  and  is  used  for  bouquets  and  vases.  It  is  of  little 
agricultural  value. 

POA. 

I.  P.  PKATENSIS,  Kentucky  Blue  Grass. 

This  is  called  also  smooth  meadow  grass,  spear  grass,  and 
green  grass,  all  three  very  appropriate,  characteristic  names. 
Blue  is  a  misnomer  for  this  grass.  It  is  not  blue,  but  'green  as 
grass'  and  the  greenest  of  grasses.  The  P.  compressa,  flat-stalk- 
ed meadow  grass,  wire  grass,  blue  grass  is  blue,  the  'true  blue' 
grass  from  which  the  genus  received  its  trivial  name. 

Kentucky  blue  grass,  known  also  in  the  eastern  States  as  June 
grass,  although  esteemed  in  some  parts  of  America  as  the  best 
of  all  pasture  grasses,  seems  not  to  be  considerered  very  valua- 
ble among  English  farmers  except  in  mixtures.  It  ts  certainly 
a  very  desirable  pasture  grass  however.  Its  very  narrow  leaves, 
one,  two  or  more  feet  long,  are  in  such  profusion  and  cover  the 
ground  to  such  depth  with  their  luxuriant  growth  that  a  mere 
description  could  give  no  one  an  adequate  idea  of  its  beauty, 

mianfifiT-   onrl    Trolno  •   ±V>«+   TO.   /->*->  ™,nV»     lonrl          On    rknnr      sanrlv  land 


54  KAUJMUK'S  BOOK  OF  G  HAWSES 

Perennial  and  bearing  cold  and  drought  well,  it  furnishes 
grazing  a  large  part  of  the  year.  It  is  specially  valuable  as  a 
winter  and  spring  grass  for  the  south.  To  secure  the  best  win- 
ter results,  it  should  be  allowed  a  good  growth  in  early  fall,  so. 
that  the  ends  of  the  leaves  being  killed  by  frost  afford  "an  ample 
covering  for  the  under  parts  which  continue  to  grow  all  winter 
and  Afford  a  good  bite  whenever  required  by  sheep,  cattle,  hogs 
and  horses.  In  prolonged  summer  drought  it  dries  completely, 
so  that  if  fired,  it  would  burn  o/f  clean.  But  this  occurs  in  Ken- 
tucky, where  indeed  it  has  seemed  without  fire  to  disappear  ut- 
terly ;  yet  when  rain  came,  the  bright  green  spears  promptly  re- 
carpeted  the  earth.  * 

With  its  underground  stems  and  many  roots  it  sustains  the 
heat  and  drought  of  the  southern  States  as  well  as  those  of  Ken- 
tucky; where  indeed  it  is  subjected  to^severer  trials  of  this  kind 
than  in  the  more  southern  States.  In  fact  it  bears  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  our  climate  about  as  well  as  Bermuda  grass  and  is  near- 
ly as  nutritious. 

Mr.  Collier's  proximate 

ANALYSIS  OF  PO'A  PRATENSIS  : 

\l  ',T  '>   .  c  '  .;  /"• 

Oil,                                     1.82         Amylaceous  cellulose,  22.53 

Wax,                                  1.04         Alkali  extract,  17.20 

Sugars,                               9.61          Albuminoids,  11.54 

Gum  and  dextrin,           3.14         Ash,  5.18 
Cellulose,                        27.94 

100.00 
ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  6.96         Sulphuric  acid,  4.76 

Potassium  oxide,  33.81          Phosphoric  acid,  9.89 

Sodium,  Silicic  acid,  30.25 

Sodium  oxide,  Chlorine,  6.30 

Calcium  oxide,  4.81 

Magnesium  oxide,  3.23  100.00 

Blue  grass  grows  well  on  hill  tops,  slopes,  or  bottom  lands  if 
not  too  wet  and  too  poor.  It  may  be  sown  any  time  from  Sep- 
tember till  April,  preferably  perhaps  in  the  latter  half  of  Febru- 
ary or  early  in  March.  The  best  catch  I  ever  had  was  sown  the 
20th.  of  March,  on  unbroken  land,  from  which  trash,  leaves  etc. 
had  just  been  burned.  The  surface  of  the  land  should  be  clean- 
ed of  trash  of  all  kinds,  smooth,  even;  and  if  recently  plowed 
and  harrowed,  it  should  be  rolled  also.  This  last  proceeding  is 
for  compacting  the  surface  in  order  to  prevent  the  seed  from 
sinking  too  deep  in  the  ground.  Without  harrowing  or  brush- 
ing in,  many  of  them  get  in  too  deep  to  come  up,  even  when  the 
surface  of  the  land  has  had  the  roller  over  it.  The  first  rain  af- 
ter seeding  will  put  them  in  deep  enough,  as  the  seeds  are  very 


A:ND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          55 

minute  and  the  spears  of  grass  small  as  fine  needles  and  there- 
fore unable  to  get  out  from  under  heavy  cover.  These  spears 
are  so  small  as  to  be  invisible  except  to  close  examination  and 
in  higher  latitudes  this  condition  continues  through  the  first  year. 
Thus  some  who  have  sown  the  blue  grass  seed,  seeing  the  first 
year  no  grass  imagine  they  have  been  cheated,  plant  some  other 
crop  and  probably  lose  what  close  inspection  would  have  shown 
to  be  a  good  catch.  This,  however,  is  not  apt  to  occur  in  the 
southern  tier  of  States  as  the  growth  here  is  more  rapid.  The 
sowing  mentioned  above,  made  on  the  20th.  of  March,  came  up 
promptly  and  in  three  months  the  grass  was  from  six  to  ten  in- 
ches high.  One  year  here  gives  a  finer  growth  and  show  than 
two  in  Kentucky  or  any  other  State  so  far  north. 

Sown  alone  20  to  26  points,  that  is  two  bushels,  should  be 
used;  in  mixtures,  four  to  six  pounds. 

2.  P.  ANNUA,     Annual  Meadow  Grass. 

In  many  parts  of  the  southern  States  this  grass  has  become 
naturalized.  It  is  a  tender  plant,  with  linear  leaves  three  to 
six  inches  long  and  stems  six  to  ten  inches  high,  blooming  in 
February  and  March,  and  through  the  summer  if  moist.  It  is 
a  beautiful  grass,  but  so  small  that  the  yield  is  not  large.  But 
it  is  exceedingly  relished  by  all  kinds  of  cattle  and  is  supposed 
to  have  a  specially  good  effect  in  improving  the  quality  of  but- 
ter. It  does  not  resist  the  effects  of  drought  as  well  as  other 
species  of  this  genus.  It  is  so  very  like  blue  grass  (P.  pratense) 
as  to  be  easily  mistaken  for  it.  In  some  places  it  is  called 
goose  grass. 

3.  P.  CRIST  AT  A,  six  to  ten  inches  high,  and 

4.  P.  FLEXTJOSA,  Southern   spear   grass,   with  slender  stems 
twelve  to  eighteen  inches  high,  are  southern  species  growing  in 
dry  wooded  lands.     They  have  not  been  tested  to  ascertain  their 
agricultural  value.     They  bloom  respectively  in  April  and  May. 

5.  P.  COMPJIESSA.     This  is   the  Blue  or   Wire  grass  of  the 
north.     It  has  priority    of  claim   to  the    name  blue  grass   and 
justly  too  as  the  leaves  have  a  deep  bluish  green  tint.     It  differs 
from  the  Kentuckey  blue  grass  in  the  deeper  tint  of  the  foliage 
and  flattened  stems.     The  stems  are  decumbent  at  the  base,  the 
middle  portion  ascending  and    the    upper    erect,    with    panicle 
dense,  contracted    at   first,    but  later  expanding.     It  grows  one 
or  two  feet  long  and  is  very   hardy,  and  thrives  on  poo*r,  hard, 
trodden  soils,  sandy  knolls  and  rocky  places.     It  is  very  nutri- 
tious and  greatly  relished  by  all  kinds   of  cattle.     Cows  fed  on 
it  produce  very  rich  milk  and  finely-flavored  butter.     Its  thick 
rich  turf  renders  it  specially  agreeable  to  sheep  and  deer  and  it 
imparts  a  delicate  flavor  to  their  flesh. 

Its  stems  retain  the  deep  bluish  green  color  after  maturing 
the  seeds.  Shrinking  less  than  most  other  grasses  in  drying,  it 
makes  a  very  heavy  hay  in  proportion  to  bulk.  Both  in  Eng- 


56  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

land  and  our  northern  States  it  is  very  highly  esteemed  as  a 
pasture  grass.  It  is  found  naturalized  or  native  in  nearly 
all  the  southern  States. 

In  cultivated  lauds  it  is  difficult  to  eradicate  ;  and  how  to  de- 
stroy it  has  caused  more  discussion  at  the  north,  than  how  to 
eradicate  coco  and  Bermuda  grasses  at  the  south. 

6.  P.  TRIVIAIJS,  Rough -stalked  Meadow  Grass. 

This  also  much  resembles  the  Kentucky  blue  grass.  But  it 
may  be  readily  distinguished  by  noting  that  it  has  rough  sheaths, 
with  long,  pointed  ligules,  the  marginal  ribs  of  the  five-ribbed 
outer  palet  not  hairy,  and  the  roots  fibrous.  In  blue  grass,  the 
sheaths  are  smooth,  ligules  obtuse,  marginal  ribs  of  outer  palet 
hairy,  and  roots  creeping.  The  stems  are  two  or  three  feet  high. 

According  to  Way's  analysft,  it  contains,  albuminoids,  9.80 ; 
fatty  matters,  3.67;  heat  producing  principles,  40.17  ;  woody 
fibre,  38.03  ;  ash,  8.33,  in  100  parts  of  the  dry  grass. 

This  is  a  jmtritious  grass,  greatly  relished  by  cattle,  horses  and 
sheep.  Although  perennial  and  yielding  a  large  quantity  of 
good  hay,  it  is  liable  to  be  killed,  in  the  south,  by  cutting  un- 
less succeeded  by  cloudy  wet  weather.  In  England  and  on  the 
continent  this  is  a  favorite  grass,  being  very  small  on  poor  soils; 
but  on  rich,  moist  loams  tall,  yielding  a  large  quantity  of  herb- 
age. In  a  meadow  peculiarly  well  adapted  to  it  near  Salisbury 
Plain  it  is  said  to  have  been  found  eight  feet  long. 

It  is  specially  adapted  to  wood  pastures,  as  if  delights  in  shade, 
banks  of  streams  and  moist  grounds  generally.  It  bears  tramp- 
ing and  is  an  excellent  pasture  grass.  It  makes  a  good  mixture 
with  red  top  and  orchard  grass,  or  red  top  and  tall  oat  grass,  and 
with  other  pasture  grasses.  Eight  to  ten  pounds  seed  may  be 
sown  to  the  acre ;  a  bushel  weighing  fifteen  pounds. 

P.  NEMORALIS,  Wood  Meadow  Grass,  as  the  name  implies, 
prefers  wooded  lands;  and  it  luxuriates  in  moist  shaded  grounds 
or  watery  swamps.  It  has  a  perennial,  creeping  root ;  erect, 
slender,  smooth  stem,  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet  high,  with  long, 
finely  arched  panicle ;  and  blooms  in  May  and  June.  It  is  of 
rank  growth,  succulent,  nutritious,  and  cattle  are  fpnd  of  it.  It 
may  be  planted  in  September,  October  and  February,  four 
pounds  seed  per  acre. 

8.  P.    BREVIFOLIA,    Short-leaved  Spear    Grass,    with    stem 
leaves  short,  radical  leaves  nearly  as  long  as  the  stems,  is  found 
in  rocky,  hilly  woodlands. 

9.  P.  ALSODES,   Wood  Spear  Grass,  with  narrow,  acute  leaves, 
the  upper  ones  often  sheathing    the  lower    part  of  the   panicle, 
the  slender  branches  of  which  are  generally  in  threes  or  fours, 
is  found  in  hilly  woods  flowering  in  April  or  May. 

10.  P.  DEBILIS,  Weak  Meadow  Grass,  is  perennial,  growing 
in  rocky  woodlands,  flowering  in  April  and   May,  with   panicle 
small,  loose,  few  flowered,   and   branches    slender,  flexuous,  in 
Dairs  o  rt  riDlets. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          57 

11.  P.  SYLVESTRIS,    Sylvan  Meadow  or  Spear  Grass,  has  a 
flat,  erect  stem    and   short   pyramidal    panicle  with    numerous 
branches  in  fives  or  more.     It  is  a  light,  tender  grass  and  found 
in  rocky  woods. 

All  these  last  named  grasses  grow  so  scattering  as  to  be  of 
little  value. 

A  few  other  species  of  Poa  are  found  in  our  northern  States, 
of  no  value  there  and  not  worth  introducing  any  where,  except 
the  following  one : 

12.  P.  SEROTINA,  Fowl  Meadow  Grass. 

This*  grass  belongs  to  the  same  genus  that  the  Kentucky 
blue  grass  does.  Being  taller,  (culms  2  to  3  feet)  it  is  spec- 
ially adapted  to  moist  or  even  wet  lands.  It  makes  a  large 
quantity  of  excellent  hay;  but  it  has  not  been  sufficiently  culti- 
vated in  in  the  southern  States,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  to  know 
how  long  a  meadow  set  with  it  may  remain  profitable.  It  is 
however,  worthy  of  extended  trial ;  and  that  its  comparative 
nutritive  value  may  be  known,  Mr.  Collier's  analysis  is  annexed : 

ANALYSIS  OF  POA  SEROTINA. 

Oil,                                 1.95         Amylaceous  cellulose,  25.24 

Wax,                              1.53         Alkali  extract,  15.19 

Sugars,                            9.33         Albuminoids,  8.91 

Gum  and  dextrin,        7.49         Ash,  7.47 
Cellulose,                     25.62 

100.00 
ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  2*79         Sulphuric  acid,  3.35 

Potassium  oxide,          31.71         Phosphoric  acid,  10.80 

Sodium,  .83         Silicic  acid,  37.10 

Sodium  oxide,  Chlorine,  3.80 

Calcium  oxide,  6.70 

Magnesium  oxide,         2.92  100.00 

In  portions  of  the  western  States  this  grass  has  for  some 
years  been  very  highly  recommended.  In  the  eastern  States  it 
has  been  cultivated  for  150  years  or  longer  and  valued  highly. 
Jarcd  Eliot  in  1749,  spoke  of  it  as  growing  tall  and  thick,  ma- 
king a  more  soft  and  pliable  hay  than  timothy  and  better 
adapted  for  pressing  and  shipping  for  use  of  horses  on  ship- 
board. He  says  it  makes  a  thick,  abundant  growth  on  land 
more  moist  than  is  adapted  to  common  upland  grasses  and  may 
be  mowed  any  time  from  July  to  October,  as  it  never  becomes 
so  coarse  and  hard  but  the  stalk  is  sweet  and  tender  and  eaten 
without  waste.  It  is  a  nutritious  grass  and  easily  made  into 
valuable  hay.  It  is  superior  to  other  grasses  in  its  property  of 
remaining  tender  and  good  for  so  long  a  time  after  first  bloom- 


5&  FARMER'S  Book  OF  GRASSES 

ing.  As  it  constantly  sends  up  flowering  stems  from  the  joints, 
the  lattermath  contains  more  nutrition  than  the  first  crop  at 
the  time  of  blooming.  The  more  I  see  and  know  of  its  growth 
in  the  southern  States  the  more  am  I  pleased  with  it. 

TRICUSPIS. 

T.  SESLEROIDES,  Tall  red-top  Grass. 

This  is  a  perennial  grass  with  long  rigid  leaves  and  culms, 
from  three  to  five  feet  high,  crowned  with  large  diffuse  panicles. 
The  scatterered,  pediceled,  purple  spikelets  give  the  grass  9,  fine 
appearance.  It  grows  on  dry,  sterile  soils.  Although  not  very 
nutritious  nor  desirable  in  cultivation,  yet  where  it  grows  nat- 
urally and  one  has  nothing  better,  it  may  be  worth  cutting  and 
curing  for  feeding  cattle  in  conjunction  with  concentrated  food 
in  winter.  Its  comparative  value  will  be  seen  from  Mr.  Col- 
lier's subjoined  analysis  : 

ANALYSIS  OF  TRICUSPIS  SESLEROIDES. 

Oil,                                      1.81         Amylaceous  cellulose,  26.45 

Wax,                                     .24         Alkali  extract,  12.63 

Sugars,                                6.98         Albuminoids,  6.32 

Gum  and  dextrin,             3.16         Ash,  4.55 
Cellulose,                         37.86 

100.00 
ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  8.13  Sulphuric  acid,  4.04 

Potassium  oxide,  38.49  Phosphoric  acid,  1.58 

Sodium,  Silicic  acid,  37.52 

Sodium  oxide,  Chlorine,  7.39 

Calcium  oxide,  2.32 

Magnesium  oxide,  .53  100.00 

ERAGROSTIS. 

E.  REPTANS,  Creeping  Meadow  Grass,  is  a  beatiful  annual, 
with  long  creeping  roots,  stems  six  to  eighteen  inches  high,  pan- 
icles one  or  two  inches  long,  spikelets  ten-  to  thirty-flowered, 
leaves  nearly  awl-shaped  one  or  two  inches  long,  flowers  in  Ju- 
ly, whole  plant  pale  green,  and  found  in  low,  sandy  places, 
gravelly  banks  of  streams,  fence  corners  and  open  pastures.  It 
is  relished  by  cattle,  but  not  of  much  value  in  agriculture. 

2.  E.  PO..EOIDES,  Strong-scented  Meadow  Grass,  is  handsome 
also.  The  variety  E.  megastachia,  Pungent  Meadow  Grass  is 
very  pretty,  but  emits  a  disagreeable  odor.  The  stems  are  pros- 
trate, geniculate  at  the  base,  ascending ;  panicles  contracted  ob- 


OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          59 

long,  or  later  pyramidal  spreading ;  spikelets  oblong  or  later 
linear,  three  to  five  lines  long,  ten  to  thirty  flowered,  often  lead 
colored ;  leaves  linear ;  sheaths  smooth  ;  flowers  in  July  and  Au- 
gust ;  found  in  waste  or  cultivated  lands.  Stock  do  not  relish  it. 

3.  E.  PILOSA,  Slender  Meadow  Grass,  is  a  pretty  annual,  six 
to  .twelve  inches  high,  with  loose  pyramidal  panicle  ;    spikelets 
five-  to  twelve-flowered,  of  purplish  lead  color.     It  is  found  in 
sandy  gravelly  barrens  and   old    fields,  affording  some   accepta- 
ble, nutritious  food  for  cattle. 

4.  E.  PURSHII,  Southern  Spear  Grass,  has  stems  six  to  twelve 
inches  long,  slender,  geniculate  near  the  base,  ascending ;  pani- 
cle three  to  six  inches  long,  loose,  widely  spreading,   the  lower 
branches  whorled ;  spikelets  five-  to  ten-flowered,  pale  or  pur- 
ple ;  blooms  from  June  to  September.     It  is  found  in  cultivated 
grounds  and  waste  lands,  and  is  of  little  value  for  stock. 

5.  E.  CONFERTA,  with  stems  two  or  three  feet  high  and  pan- 
icles one  or  two  feet  long,  whitish,  found  on  river  banks,  bloom- 
ing in  August  and  September. 

6.  E.  TENUIS,  Branching  Spear    Grass,  with    panicle  one  to 
two  and  a  half  feet  long  and  spreading  branches ;    leaves  one  to 
two  feet  long ;   flowering    from  August  till   frost  and  found   on 
river  banks  and  rich  sandy  soils. 

7.  E.  CAPILLARIS,  Hair-panicled  Meadow  Grass,  with  loose, 
delicate,  widely  expanding  panicle,  one  or  two  feet  long ;  spike- 
lets  very  small,  mostly  purple,  on  long  diverging  capillary  ped- 
icels ;  flowering  in  August  and  September ;  and  found  in   sandy y 
dry,  waste  places. 

8.  E.    PECTINACEA,    Meadow    Comb    Grass,   with   panicle 
one  to  one  foot  and  a  half  long,  widely  diffuse,  or  the  branches 
finally  reflexed  ;  spikelets  purple,  flat ;  flowering  in   August  and 
September ;  and  growing  on  dry,  sterile  soils ;  the  dry  panicles 
wafted  about  by  the  winds  ;  and 

9.  E.  NITIDA,  Shining  Eragrostis,    growing  along  the  coast 
with  panicles  one  and  a  half  to  three  feet  long  ;  blooming  in  Au- 
gust and  September ;  the  leaves  and  sheaths  shining ; — are   all 
of  little  agricultural  value.     Some    of  the  species  of  this  genus 
are  beautiful  in  bouquets  and    vases ;  and   for   those  uses   they 
have  been    cultivated  in   lawns  and  gardens.     That  etymology 
may  be  correct  which  derives    Eragrostis  from  Eros  (of  whom 
the  unfortunate  Er  of  Genesis  may  be  the  original,)  and  there- 
fore calls  it  Love  Grass. 

Though  it  may  be  named  from  era,  earth,  from  some  of  the 
species  having  stems  partly  prostrate  on  the  earth. 

DACTYLIS. 

D.    GLOMERATA,     Orchard  Grass,   Rough  Cock's-foot. 
Leaves  broadly  linear,  very  long,  rough,  bluish  green  ;  pani- 
cle with  few  scattered  branches  below,  more  dense  at  top ;  spike- 


60  KAKAIKK'H  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

lets  about  three-  or  four-flowered,  in  densely  crowded,  one-sided 
clusters;  both  glumes  and  lower  palet  awn-pointed;  stamens 
three ;  seed  oblong,  acute,  free ;  roots  perennial,  fibrous,  long, 
penetrating  the  soil  deeply ;  stem  three  feet  high  and  on  good 
soil  often  five  feet;  flowering  in  the  southern  States  from  the 
last  of  April  till  July  first,  according  to  latitude,  character  of 
season  and  treatment. 

Of  all  grasses,  this  is  one  of  the  most  widely  diffused,  grow- 
ing in  Africa,  Asia,  every  country  of  Europe  and  all  our  States. 
It  is  more  highly  esteemed  and  commended  than  any  other 
grass,  by  a  larger  number  of  farmers  in  most  countries — a  most 
decided  proof  of  its  great  value  and  wonderful  adaptations  to 
many  soils,  climates  and  treatments.  Yet,  strange  to  say,  though 
growing  in  England  for  many  centuries,  it  was  not  appreciated 
in  that  country  till  carried  there  from  Virginia  in  1764.  But, 
as  in  the  case  of  timothy,  soon  after  its.  introduction  from  Amer- 
ica, it  came  into  high  favor  among  farmers  and  still  retains  its 
hold  on  their  estimation  as  a  grazing  and  hay  crop. 

Nor  is  this  strange  when  its  many  advantages  and  points  of 
excellence  are  considered.  It  will  grow  well  on  any  soil  con- 
taining sufficient  clay  and  not  holding  too  much  water.  If  the 
land  be  too  tenaceous,  drainage  will  remedy  the  soil;  if  worn 
out,  a  top  dressing  of  stable  manure  will  give  it  a  good  send  off 
and  it  will  furnish  several  good  mowings  the  first  year.  It 
grows  well  between  29°  and  48°  latitude.  It  maybe  mowed 
from  two  to  four  times  a  year  according  to  latitude,  season  and 
treatment ;  yielding  from  one  to  three  tons  of  excellent  hay  per 
acre  on  poor  to  medium  land.  In  grazing  and  as  hay  most  an- 
imals select  it  in  preference  among  mixtures  with  other  grasses. 
In  lower  latitudes  it  furnishes  good  winter  grazing,  as  well  as 
for  spring,  summer|and  fall.  After  grazing  or  mowing,  lew 
grasses  grow  so  rapidly,  (three  or  six  inches  per  week),  and  are 
so  soon  ready  again  for  tooth  or  blade.  It  is  easily  cured  and 
handled.  It  is  readily  seeded  and  catches  with  certainty.  Its 
long,  deeply  penetrating,  fibrous  roots  enable  it  to  sustain  it- 
self and  grow  vigorously  during  droughts,  that  dry  up  other 
grasses,  except  tall  oat  grass,  which  has  similar  roots  and  char- 
acters. It  grows  well  in  open  lands  and  in  forests  of  large  trees, 
the  under  brush  being  all  cleared  off.  I  have  had  it  grow  lux- 
uriantly even  in  beech  woods  where  the  roots  are  superficial,  in 
the  crotches  of  roots  and  close  to  the  trunks  of  trees.  The  hay 
is  of  high  quality,  and  the  young  grass  contains  a  larger  per  cent 
of  nutritive  digestible  matter  than  any  other  grass.  It  thrives 
well  without  renewal  on  the  same  ground  for  thirty-five,  nay 
forty  years ;  how  much  longer  I  am  not  able  to  say.  It  is  easi- 
ly exterminated  when  the  land  is  desired  for  other  crops.  Is 
there  any  other  grass  for  which  so  much  can  be  said  ? 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          61 

I  know  but  one  objection  to  it.  Like  tall  oat  grass,  it  is  dis- 
posed to  grow  in  clumps  and  leave  much  of  the  ground  uncov- 
ered. This  may  be  obviated  by  thick  seeding,  using  t^o  and  a 
half  or  better  three  bushels  of  seed  per  acre.'  It  will  not  do  to 
seed  thinly  with  the  hope  that  seeds  grown  on  the  plants  will 
-fall,  germinate  and  fill  the  gaps.  They  will  not  germinate  when 
so  falling,  although  when  properly  sown  on  prepared  soil,  it  is 
one  of  the  most  certain  grasses  to  make  a  good  catch. 

The  gaps  may  be  prevented  by  sowing  with  it  a  few  pounds  of 
red  top  seed.  But  as  the  latter  multiplies  annually  from  seeds 
dropping,  it  .would  in  a  few  years  root  out  the  orchard  grass.  In 
common  with  others,  I  prefer  red  clover  with  orchard  grass.  It 
fills  the  gaps  and  matures  at  the  same  time  with  orchard  grass ; 
the  mixture  makes  good  pasture  and  good  hay.  But  if  mowed 
more  than  twice  a  year,  or  grazed  too  soon  after  the  second 
mowing  the  clover  will  rapidly  fail.  One  peck  of  red  clover 
seed  and  six  pecks  of  orchard  grass  seed  is  a  good  proportion  per 
acre. 

Whether  it  is  more  profitable  to  mow  orchard  grass  but  twice 
a  year  and  thus  have  earlier,  better  and  more  prolonged  winter 
pasture ;  or  to  mow  three  or  four  times  and  have  later,  inferior 
and  for  a  shorter  time,  winter  pasture,  is  a  question  affected  by 
so  many  contingencies  and  permutations  that  the  satisfactory 
discussion  would  be  so  complex  and  occupy  so  many  pages  that 
it  is  deemed  proper  not  to  entertain  it  here ;  but  leave  it  for 
each  reader  to  decide  from  his  own  stand-point  in  view  of  his 
own  purposes,  objects  and  surroundings.  I  decidedly  prefer 
for  my  o\vn  purposes  and  with  my  own  experience  but  two  mow- 
ings a  year  of  the  mixed  clover  and  orchard  grass  and  not  more 
than  three  of  orchard  grass  alone  and  this  only  if  the  season  be 
very  favorable.  It  should  not  be  grazed  soon  after  mowing  if 
good,  early  winter  pasture  be  expected. 

"This  valuable  grass  is  indigenous  to  the  soil  of  America,  and 
from  its  adaptability  to  various  soils,  its  early  and  late  growth, 
luxuriant  foliage  and  nutritive  qualities,  is  well  entitled  to  an 
equality  with  any  grass  either  native  or  foreign." — (Henderson.) 
I  therefore  give  several  analyses.  Taken  green  from  the  field 
and  in  bloom,  100  parts  gave  : 

According  to —     Way.         Schevan  and  Ritthausen. 

Water,  70.00  65.00 

Albuminoids,  4.06  3.-00 

Fatty  matter,  .94  •    .80 

Carbohydrates,  13.30  12.60 

Woody  fibre,  10.11  16.10 

Ash,  1.59  2.40 

100.00  99.90 


62  KAKMEK'S  Book  OF  G 

100  parts  bf  the  dried  grass  gave   according  to   analysis   of 

Way.  Wolff  AKnop. 

Albuminoids^                                   13.53  .  11.60 

Fatty  matter,                                     3.14  2.70 

Carbohydrates^                                44.32  40.70 

Woody  fibre,                                    33.70  28.90 

Ash.   '                                                   5.31  4.60 


100.00  88.50 

These  apparent  discrepancies  are  what  must  be  expected  of 
any  other  grass  grown  under  different  conditions  and  cut  at  dif- 
ferent stages  of  maturity.  Mr.  Sinclair's  Woburn  experiments 
well  illustrate  this.  Grown  on  rich  sandy  soil,  he  cut  of  this 
grass  immaturej  10,209  pounds  per  acre  containing  1,190  pounds 
nutritive  matter.  Cut  in  flower,  an  acre  gave  27,905  poands 
green,  or  11,859  pounds  dry  hay  containing  1,089  pounds  nu- 
tritive matter.  Cut  in  seed  it  weighed  per  acre  26,544  pounds 
fresh,  or  13,272  dry;,  containing  1,451  pounds  nutritive  matter. 
Cut  in  this  last  mature  stage  j  it  is  much  more  difficult  to  masti- 
cate and  digest^  and  a  less  proportion  of  the  nutritive  matter  is 
assimilated,  It  should,  therefore;,  be  cut  at  an  earlier  stage  to 
secure  the  healthiest  relish  and  most  nutriment  for  green  soiling 
or  hay. 

Altogether  and  from  every  stand  point,  I  am  compelled  to 
say  still  as  I  did  many  years  ago  that  I  prefer  orchard  to  any 
other  grass.  Nor  am  I  alone  in  this  preference.  I  could  fill 
volumes  with  testimonials  more  strongly  expressed  than  my  own 
in  favor  of  this  grass  over  all  others,  by  the  most  distinguished 
live  stock  growers  of  Europe  and  America* 

After  being  cut,,  it  has  been  found  to  grow  four  inches  in  less 
than  three  days.  Sheep  leave  all  other  grasses,  if  they  can  find 
this ;  and  acre  for  acre  it  will  sustain  twice  as  many  sheep  or 
other  stock  as  timothy  or  other  esteemed  pasture  grasses.  Cut 
at  the  proper  stage  it  makes  a  much  better  hay  than  timothy 
and  is  greatly  preferred  by  animals,  being  easier  to  masticate, 
digest  and  assimilate ;  in  fact  more  like  green  grass  in  flavor, 
tenderness  and  solubility.  It  grows  on  any  soil  not  too  wet  or 
too  salty ;  on  hill  and  vale,  mountain  and  plain. 

It  produces  seeds  freely  and  they  germinate  with  certainty. 
A  bushel  of  cleaned  seeds  weighs  from  twelve  to  fifteen  pounds. 
It  may  be  be  improved  by  selecteng  seeds  from  choice  plants. 
Probably  all  the  cereals,  certainly  all  that  I  have  tried,  may  be 
greatly  improved  by  careful  selection  and  judicious  culture. 

FESTTJCA.     Fescue  Grasses. 

Native  and  introduced,  eight  species  of  this  genus  are  found 
growing  in  the  southern  States.  These  range  from  two  inches 


OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          63 

to  four  feet  high.  Two  or  three  of  the  species  are  worth  little 
or  nothing ;  but  others  are  among  the  most  valuable  grasses  we 
have. 

1.  F.  PRATENSIS,  known  generally  as  meadow  fescue,  locally 
in  Virginia  as  Randall  grass,  is  a  perennial,  with  round  smooth 
stems  two  to  three  feet  high,  in  mountain  lands  in  Virginia  six 
feet  high,  panicle  nearly  erect,  branched,  slightly  inclined  to 
one  side.  The  radical  leaves  ^re  broader  than  those  of  the  stem; 
but  in  other  species  this  is  reversed.  The  numerous  fibrous 
roots  pierce  a  good  soil  to  a  depth  of  12  or  15  inches.  It  is  there- 
fore better  fortified  against  drought  than  most  grasses,  and  it  is 
in  vigorous  growth  when  other  grasses  are  dried  up.  It  is  one 
of  our  best  winter  grasses  and  is  much  prized  as  far  north  as 
Virginia,  where  it  furnishes  cattle  good  grazing  in  mid- winter, 
as  they  can  push  their  muzzles  under  the  snow  to  crop  it.  They 
are  very  fond  of  the  long  tender  leaves,  which  are  enjoyed  by 
horses  and  sheep  also. 

It  grows  well  in  nearly  all  situations,  wet  or  dry,  on  hill  or 
bottom  land,  even  though  subject  to  overflow,  and  matures  an 
extraordinary  quantity  of  seed.  The  seeds  germinate  readily, 
and  it  is  easy  to  set  a  piece  of  land  with  this  grass.  Seeded  alone, 
28  pounds  (about  two  bushels  seed  should  be  sown  broadcast  in 
August,  September,  October  or  from  the  middle  of  February  to 
first  of  April.  From  remaining  green  through  winter  it  is 
sometimes  called  evergreen  grass.  Mowed  and  dried  it  makes  a 
good  hay  much  relished  by  stock.  It  may  therefore  be  used 
for  pasture,  green  soiling  or  hay  as  desired. 

Sinclair  found  more  nutritive  matter  in  the  fescue  grass  when 
in  bloom  than  when  in  seed.  In  this  fact  there  is  great  advan- 
tage in  favor  of  these  grasses ;  for  being  cut  when  in  bloom  they 
are  more  easily  and  completely  digested  than  when  cut  later, 
and  hence  a  larger  production  of  the  contained  nutritive  matters 
can  be  assimilated  by  the  animal  eating  them. 

2.  F.  ELATIOR,  Tall  Fescue  grass.  Some  consider  this  iden- 
tical with  the  meadow  fescue ;  but  it  is  about  twice  as  large,  has 
similar  perennial  roots,  stems  3  to  4  or  5  feet  high,  panicle  a  lit- 
tle drooping  or  erect,  wTith  short  branches  spreading  in  all  direc- 
tions. According  to  the  Woburn  experiments  it  furnished  a 
much  larger  quantity  of  nutritive  material  than  any  of  the  other 
fescues  and  a  larger  quantity  than  a  number  of  other  forage 
plants  ,  timothy  making  the  nearest  approach  to  it,  and  blue 
grass  rating  extremely  low  in  the  scale.  The  gross  weight  of 
grass  was  so  great,  the  loss  in  drying  so  much  less  than  in  others 
and  the,  nutritive  matter  so  extraordinary  in  quantity  that  the 
reader  will  be  interested  in  a  comparative  table  which  I  have 
constructed  from  Sinclair's  report  of  the  Woburn  experiments, 
which  he  conducted  for  ten  years. 


64                      FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  G. 

When  cut.    weight    Weight 
green.         dry. 

Nutritive 
matter. 

Festuca  elatior,           1  n  flower,       51,046 

17  *66 

3.988 

Festuca  duriuscula, 

•     18,376 

-S269 

1,004 

Festuca  pratensis, 

13,612 

6,465 

957 

Festuca  loliacea, 

16,335 

7,146 

765 

Holcus  lanatus, 

19,057 

6,661 

1,191 

Holcus  odoratus,          1  n 

>ed,          27,225 

9,52S 

2,2:i3 

Pactylis  glomerate, 

26,544 

13,272 

1,451 

Trifolium  pratense, 

49,0('5 

12,2">1 

1  ,914 

Phleum  pratense, 

40,H37 

19,397 

3,669 

Poa  pratense,               In  flower,       10,200 

2,871 

279 

Tall  fescue  grass. 
Hard  fescue  grass. 
Meadow  feseue  grass. 
Spiked  fescue  grass. 
Meadow  soft  grass. 
Sweet  M.    soft  grass. 
Orchard  grass. 
Red  clover. 
Timothy. 
Kentucky  blue  grass. 

Sinclair's  experiments  show  :  1st.  that  meadow  fescue  between 
the  times  of  blooming  and  maturing  seed,  loses  |  of  its  nutritive 
value ;  or  that  it  has  three  times  as  much  nutritive  materials 
when  in  bloom  as  when  7  the  seed  are  ripe  :  2nd.  that  the  produce 
of  tall  fescue  was  to  that  of  meadow  fescue  as  3  to  1  ;  and  3rd. 
that  the  percentage  of  nutritive  matter  in  the  former  to  that  in 
the  latter  was  as  8  to  6  ;  and  finally  that  the  nutritive  value  of 
an  acre  of  tall  fescue  was  four  times  greater  than  that  of  an  acre 
of  meadow  fescue,  more  than  twice  that  of  red  clover,  and  e- 
qualled  by  that  of  lucerne  alone.  In  preparing  the  above  table 
I  have  taken  each  plant  at  that  stage  in  which  it  contains  the 
largest  quantity  of  nutrition.  The  fescue  grasses  cut  in  bloom 
are  more  digestible  and  their  nutritive  value  enhanced  no  little 
as  compared  with  the  other  plants  named  in  the  table  out  at  a 
stage  when  less  digestible. 

Of  all  the  nutritive  matter  contained  in  fescue  grass,  20  per 
cent  forms  flesh  and  9  per  cent  bone  nerve  etc.,  just  the  thing  for 
the  rapid  development  of  young  animals.  Weight  for  weight, 
however,  red  clover  furnishes  much  more  of  flesh  and  bone  form- 
ing materials  than  the  grasses.  The  table  will  enable  the  read- 
er to  make  other  useful  comparisons  and  deductions. 

Although  tall  fescue  is  coarser  than  meadow  fescue,  stock 
seem  to  like  it  as  well,  and  it  is  equally  good  for  pasture,  green 
soiling  or  hay.  It  may  be  planted  at  the  same  times  and  in  the 
same  quantity  as  the  meadow  fescue.  While  the  latter  matures 
very  large  crops  of  seed,  and  is  hence  called  fertile  fescue,  the 
former  in  some  localities  matures  so  few  that  it  hasjbeen  called 
infertile  fescue.  It  may  be  multiplied  by  parting  and  setting 
out  the  roots.  It  grows  well  wherever  meadow  fescue  does, 
and  on  wetter  lands  and  in  shade  also.  Both  are  useful  in  stop- 
ping washes. 

3.  F.  DURIUSCULA,  Hard  Fescue,  contains  according  to 
Way's  analysis : 

In  100  parts  taken  from  the  field,  green.  dried 

Water,  69.33 

Albuminous  or  flesh  forming  principles,  3.70  12.10 

Fatty  matters,  1.02  3.34 

Heat   producing   principles,    starch,   sugar, 

gum  etc.,  12.46  40.43 

Woody  fibre,     i  11.83  38.71 

Mineral  matter  or  ash,  1.66  5.42 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          65 

This  grass,  though  much  smaller  than  the  two  preceding,  is 
also  perennial,  green  through  winter,  withstands  summer 
droughts,  thrives  on  various  soils,  grows  a  foot  or  two  high, 
and  is  a  good  pasture  grass. 

4.  F.  RTJBRA,  Ked  Fescue,  one  of  the  largest  of  the  genus, 
is  probably  only  a  variety  of  the  preceding ;    and  though  grow- 
ing naturally  on  sandy  and  dry  soils  is  said  to  be  a  better  grass 
than  some  of  the  other  species. 

5.  F.  OVINA,  Sheep's  Fescue  is  also  regarded  by  some   as  a 
smaller  variety  of  the  Hard,  and  grows  from  6  to  12  inches  high 
with  many    very  narrow  radical  leaves  and  tufts    of  perennial 
roots.     This  also    is    a  good  pasture  grass   specially  for  sheep, 
and  on  dry  sandy  lands. 

6.  F.  TENELLA,  Small  Fescue  grows  on  dry,  sandy  soil  from 
2  to  12  inches  high  and  is  of  little  value. 

7.  F.  MYURUS,  grows  on  the  same  soil  as  the  preceding  6  to 
12  inches  high  and  is  about  equally  valuable. 

8.  F.  LOLIACEA,  Spiked  Fescue,  Darnel  Fescue,  like  tall  fes- 
cue, to  which  it  is  closely  allied,  matures  few  seeds.     In  appear- 
ance it  resembles  rye  grass,  to  which,  Loudon    says,  "it  is  con- 
sidered superior  either  for  hay  or  permanent  pasture,  and  it  im- 
proves in  proportion  to  its  age,    which   is  the    reverse   of  what 
takes  place  with  the  rye  grass."     On  rich,  moist  meadow  it  is  a 
good  pasture  grass. 

9.  F.  NUTANS,  Nodding  Fescue  grows  two  to  four  feet  high 
in  rich  as  well  as  rocky  woods  and  banks,  with  a  one-sided  pan- 
icle nodding  when  ripe.  This  and  some  others  of  this  genus  are 
well  suited  for  woods  pastures,  where  they  could  be  mixed  with 
Kentucky  blue  grass,  tall  oat  grass,  Terrell  grass  etc.     In  some 
localities  in  the  southern  States,    meadow  fescue  is  now  begin- 
ning very  improperly  to  be  called  English  blue  grass. 

BROMTJS. 

1.  B.  UNIOLOIDES,  Rescue  grass. 

This  grass  is  called  also,  B.    SCHRADERI,   B.   WILLDENOWII, 

CERATOCHLOA   UNIOLOIDES,    and  FESTTJCA    UNIOLOIDES.      It    IS 

an  annual  winter  grass.  It  varies  in  the  time  of  starting  growth. 
I  have  seen  it  ready  for  mowing  the  first  of  October  and  furnish 
frequent  cuttings  till  April.  Again  ;  it  may  not  start  before 
January,  nor  be  ready  to  cut  till  February.  This  depends  up- 
on the  moisture  and  depression  of  temperature  of  the  fall,  the 
seeds  germinating  only  at  a  low  temperature.  When  once  start- 
ed, its  growth  after  the  successive  cuttings  or  grazings  is  very 
rapid.  It  is  tender,  very  sweet  and  stock  eat  it  greedily.  It 
makes  also  a  good  hay.  It  produces  an  immense  quantity  of 


66  I^AKAI ..EU'S  BOOK  OF 

The  quantity  of  sugar  and  oil  it  contains,  as  shown  by  the  fol- 
lowing analysis  of  Mr.  Collier,  specially  commends  it"  for  win- 
ter feeding. 

Oil,  2.99         Amylaceous  cellulose,     23.74 

Wax,  .24         Alkali  extract,  13.13 

Sugars,  14.36         Albuminoids,  12.45 

Gum  and  dextrin,  1.00         Ash,  7  78 

Cellulose,  24.31 

100.00 
ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  16.38         Sulphuric  acid,  5.61 

Potassium  oxide,  37.20         Phosphoric  acid,  8.79 

Sodium,  1.27         Silicic  acid,  4.84 

Sodium  oxide,  Chlorine,  16.84 

Calcium  oxide,  4.43 

Magnesium  oxide,  4.64  100.00 

The  large  quantity  of  Potassium  and  its  oxide  and  chlorine 
in  the  ash  is  very  remarkable. 

A  writer  in  the  Rural  Carolinian,  (vol.  I.  p.  604C),  says  Mr. 
Iverson  introduced  this  grass  into  Georgia  many  years  ago,  ad- 
ding: "I  sowed  it  on  a  peach  orchard,  contiguous  to  my  barn- 
yard, a  pretty  rich  clay  soil  and  kept  in  good  heart  by  the  drop- 
pings of  animals.  Here  for  many  years,  it  has  furnished  fine 
grazing  in  winter,  for  hogs,  horses,  calves  etc.  In  the  spring 
the  stock  has  been  taken  off,  and  the  grass  allowed  to  drop  its 
seed.  Occasionally  I  have  plowed  it  up,  and  I  believe  the  bet- 
ter plan  would  be  to  plow  it  up  every  spring  after  the  seeds 
drop,  and  sow  down  in  peas.  It  might  be  made  to  answer  a 
valuable  purpose/' 

In  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Report  for  1878,  p.  170, 
Mr.  Williams  of  Texas  writes :  "Inasmuch  as  western  Texas  is 
the  great  stock  producing  section  of  the  South-west,  and  consid- 
ering the  fact  that  pasturage  is  scanty,  particularly  in  Februa- 
ry, stunting  the  growth  of  young  cattle,  this  seems  wonderfully 
adapted  to  supply  just  what  is  greatly  wanted,  both  for  milch 
cows,  calves,  colts,  and  ewes  just  dropping  lambs ;  and  besides, 
this  grass  grows  well  on  the  thinnest  soil  and  crowds  out  weeds, 
maturing  in  March  and  early  April,  while  not  interfering  with 
the  native  mesquite.  I  therefore  regard  this  grass  as  a  wonder- 
ful and  most  important  discovery." 

For  the  reasons  named  by  Mr.  Williams  this  grass  is  valua- 
ble in  portions  of  Louisana,  Mississippi,  Alabama  and  Georgia. 
It  is  specially  valuable  for  fall  colts  and  their  dams. 

I  have  seen  it  bloom  as  early  as  November  when  the  season 
has  favored  and  no  grazing  or  cutting  permitted.  Oftener  it 
makes  little  start  till  January.  But  whether  late  or  early  start- 
ing, it  may  be  grazed  or  mowed  frequently,  until  April.  It 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          67 

will  still  mature  seed.  It  has  become  naturalized  in  limited 
portions  of  Texas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Alabama  and  perhaps 
other  States.  It  is  a  very  pretty  grass  in  all  its  stages  ;  but  es- 
pecially when  the  culms  two  or  three  feet  high  are  gracefully 
bending  with  the  weight  of  the  diffuse  panicle  with  its  many 
pedicelled,  flattened  spikelets,  each  an  inch  or  more  long  and 
with  twelve  to  sixteen  flowers. 

I  would  not,  however,  advise  sowing  this  grass  on  poor  land 
with  the  expectation  of  getting  a  remunerative  return.  It  til- 
lers abundantly  under  favorable  conditions. 

2.  B.  CABIN ATUS,  California  Brome  Grass,  according  to  Mr. 
Collier's  analyses  annexed,  is  much  less  nutritious  than  the  pre- 
ceding species  :  oil,  2.46  ;  wax,  .24  ;  sugars,  9.38  ;  gum  and  dex- 
trin, 4.56  ;  cellulose,  26.90 ;  amylaceous  cellulose,  17.02  ;    alkali 
extract,  19.15  ;  albuminoids,  9.88  ;  ash,  10.31,  in  100  parts.    Lit- 
tle is  yet  known  of  it. 

3.  B.  SECALINUS,  Cheat  or  Chess.     This  well  known  pest  in 
grain  fields  had  some  thirty  years    ago  an  infamous   notoriety 
under  the  name  of  Willard's  grass.     With  lip  and  pen  the  vir- 
tues of  this  grass  were  so  adroitly  inculcated  that  the  bold  Cheat 
succeeded  in  selling  at  fabulous  prices  his    maddeniiig  chess,  at 
the  same  time  exacting  a  pledge  from  purchasers  that  it  should 
not  be  allowed  to  go  to  seed ;  thus  hoping  to  escape  exposure  of 
the  fraud,  and  to  reap  alone  the  rewards  of  his  ingenuity.  Though 
not  desirable  on   a  farm,  it  has  considerable  value  as   a  winter 
grass. 

4.  B.  RACEMOSUS,  Upright  Chess,  or  Smooth  Brome  Grass, 
and  5.  B.  MOLLIS,  Soft  Chess  or  Soft  Brome,  also  are  found  in 
grain  fields.     The  seeds  of  these  three  species  have  been  a  source 
of  great  annoyance  to  farmers,    by    getting  among   the  wheat 
and  being  ground  to  the  serious  damage  of  the  flour.     In    our 
lower  latitudes,  sown    alone    on  good  soils,  they  make  a    large 
quantity  of  very  inferior  forage.     If  covered  some  depth  in  the 
ground,  the  seeds  remain   sound  for  years,  and,  when  brought 
near  the  surface  by  the  plow,   promptly  germinate  and  mature 
another  crop.     The  growth  of  these  species  therefore  should  not 
be  encouraged  on  our  lands. 

6.  B.  CILIATUS,  Fringed  Brome  Grass  and  the  variety  pur- 
gans  are  found  in  old    fields   and  along  rich   river  banks   and 
wooded  hills,  with  stems  from  two  to  four  feet  high.     It  is  one 
of  the  least  valuable. 

7.  B.  KALMII,  Wild  Chess,  indigenous  to  some  of  our  States, 
and  growing  two  or  three   feet  high,    in  dry  woods,  may   offer 
some  promise  to  intelligent  experiment.     Other  species  common 
in  Europe  are  not  known  here. 


68  FAIIMHU'S   BOOK  OF 


UNIOLA. 

1.  U.  LATIFOLIA,  Wild  Fescue  Grass,  Broad-leaved  Spiked 
Grass.  This  beautiful  grass  is  found  on  the  banks  of  streams 
The  culms,  two  or  three  feet  high,  bear  loose  drooping  panicles, 
with  large,  broad,  flat  compressed  spikelets  often  to  fifteen 
flowers.  It  blooms  from  May  till  August.  It  is  perennial  and 
in  some  localities  is  sufficiently  abundant  to  be  cut  for  hay.  I 
have  seen  it  cultivated  in  but  one  place ;  with  what  result  I  am 
not  informed.  As  it  was  sown  on  poor  hills,  it  certainly  could 
not  yield  much  hay.  And  on  lands  where  it  might  be  profita- 
ble to  cultivate  it,  many  other  grasses  would  be  more  profitable. 
A  local  name  for  it  in  Mississippi  is,  I  believe,  'wild  oats.7  Mr. 
Collier's 

ANALYSIS  OF  UNIOLA  LATIFOLIA. 

Oil,                                  f  o  90         Amylaceous  cellulose,  10.23 

Wax,                              \                 Alkali  extract,  14.40 

Sugars,                               6.78         Albuminoids,  11.29 

Gurn  and  dextrin,           4.02         Ash,  11.38 
Cellulose,                        38.67 

100.00 
ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  5.19         Sulphuric  acid,  2.62 

Potassium  oxide,  5.52         Chlorine,  4.71 

Magnesium  oxide,  3.02         Silica,  66.87 

Calcium  oxide,  7.15 

Phosphoric  acid,  4.92  100.00 

A  clump  of  this  native  grass  set  in  the  flower  garden  would 
be  much  more  attractive  than  hundreds  of  other  plants  imported 
and  sold  at  high  prices. 

2.  U.  PANICULATA,  Spike  Grass,  growing  from  two  to  eight 
feet  high  among  the  sands  along    the    coast,  has,  like  the  prece- 
ding, long-pedicelled,  drooping  spikelets.     It   is   a  pretty   but 
worthless  plant  for  forage, 

3.  U.  GKACILIS,  Slender   Spike   Grass,  found   in  rich,  damp 
soils,  with  slender  stems  two  to  four  feet  long,  flowering  in  July 
and  August;  and 

4.  U.  NITIDA,  Shining  Spike  Grass,  found  in   swamps,  with 
slender  stems  one  or  two  feet  high,  have  stemless  or  nearly  ses- 
sile spikelets  and  are  of  little  feeding  value  apparently. 

PHRAGMITES. 

P.  COMMUNIS,  Common  Keed  Grass. 

This  is  one  of  the  largest  grasses  in  the  United  States,  grow- 
ing from  five  to  twelve  feet  high  with  numerous  leaves  one  or 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          69 

two  inches  wide.  The  stems  dying  down  in  the  fall,  the  peren- 
nial roots  send  up  in  the  spring  a  large  growth  of  stems  and 
leaves.  These  while  tender,  the  cattle  eat,  but  quit  as  the 
plants  become  harder ;  leaving  them  to  perfect  their  large  ter- 
minal panicles  and  load  them  with  the  large  seeds  for  feeding 
tlui  winter  swarms  of  geese,  ducks  and  other  birds. 

This  grass  is  found  in  swamps,  along  marshy  streams  and  bor- 
ders of  ponds.  It  is  found  in  both  hemispheres.  In  Great 
Britain  it  is  used  for  thatch,  and  is  preferred  to  slate;  being 
warmer  in  winter  and  cooler  in  summer.  It  might  be  used  for 
the  same  purpose  in  this  country ;  but  owing  to  difference  of 
climatic  influences,  it  would  not  probably  last  here  as  in  Eng- 
land for  eighty  years. 

A  RUN  DIN  ARIA. 

I.  A.  GIGANTEA,  or  MACROSPERMA.     Large  Cane. 

This  largest  of  our  grasses  has  a  hard,  woody  stem  from  one 
half  to  three  inches  in  diameter,  and  ten  to  forty  feet  high,  erect 
rounded,  tapering  from  near  the  base,  jointed  every  eight  to 
twelve  inches  for  one  half  the  length  or  more,  then  joints  be- 
coming shorter  and  smaller  to  the  top  ;  leaves  one  to  two  inches 
wide,  persistent,  on  clustered  spreading  branches,  which  also  are 
jointed  and  appear  the  second  year.  On  rich  land,  in  the  spring, 
the  young  stems  shoot  up  full  size,  ten  or  twenty  feet  high  and 
are  crisp  as  asparagus ;  and  by  some  persons  as  much  relished. 
The  stems  would  probably  make  nice  pickles  also  and  various 
kinds  of  preserves  by  adding  suitable  flavors  to  the  syrup. 

Hogs,  cattle  and  other  animals  are  fond  of  the  young  plants 
and  seeds.  Turkies  and  other  birds  and  many  other  animals  fat- 
ten on  the  seeds  where  abundant.  The  age  at  which  this  large 
cane  blooms  has  not  been  definitely  decided.  It  probably  va- 
ries with  the  latitude,  soil  and  surroundings,  from  ten  to  thirty 
years.  When  the  seeds  mature  the  cane  dies.  Grazing  animals 
feed  greedily  on  the  leaves  in  winter,  and  find  protection  from 
the  driving  rains  and  piercing  "rinds  under  the  dense  roof  of  the 
cane-brake  or  thicket.  The  stems  are  used  for  fishing  rods, 
scaffolds  for  drying  cotton,  with  the  joints  punched  out  for  blow- 
guns  and  water  pipes,  pieces  for  pipe-stems  and  pipes,  and  splits 
for  baskets,  mats  and  other  purposes. 

2.  A.  TECTA,  Small  Cane.  Some  hold  that  this  is  the  switch 
cane  and  that  it  is  a  seedling  of  the  preceding.  Its  habits  are 
different,  however,  from  those  of  the  large  cane.  It  blooms 
sometimes  two  or  more  consecutive  years  without  dying  down 
to  the  root.  Live  stock  like  it  as  well  as  the  large  cane.  Both 
grow  best  on  rich  lands,  hills  or  bottoms ;  but  they  will  grow 
on  thin  clay  soil,  improve  it  and,  if  protected  from  stock  rapid- 
ly extend  by  sending  out  long  roots  with  buds. 


70  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

TRITTCUM. 

T.  VUL.GARE,  Wheat. 

This  is  little  used  for  grazing,  or  hay.  The  straw,  however, 
is  used  for  foddering  stock  and  contains  2  per  cent  albuminoids, 
30.2  carbohydrates  and  1.5  fat.  The  chaff  contains  of  albumin- 
oids 4.5,  carbohydrates  33.2,  fat  1.4.  Wheat  straw,  therefore, 
contains  considerable  nourishment ;  but  less  than  oat  straw.  All 
know  the  value  of  wheat  bran,  shorts  etc.,  as  stock  feed.  For  a 
number  of  years  I  sowed  wheat  for  winter  pasture  with  mode- 
rately remunerative  results.  For  that  purpose,  I  found  oats, 
rye  and  barley  better.  Bread  grains  as  such  do  not  come  in  the 
plan  of  this  work,  and  I  therefore  add  in  this  connection  only 
that  the  wheats  used  for  human  foods  are  annuals.  Many  per- 
sons believe  that  pigs  are  killed  by  grazing  on  wheat. 

2.  T.  REPENS,  Couch,  Quitch,  Twitch,  Chandler,  Dog  Grass 
and  many  other  names.     This  is  perennial   with  stem   two    or 
two  and  a  half  feet  high,  so  much  like  wrheat  as  to  be  called  al- 
so wheat  grass.     Cattle  eat  it  heartily  when  green  ;  and  cut  ear- 
ly it  makes  a  good  hay.     But  it  fills  the  ground  with  roots,   is 
as  difficult  to  cultivate  amongst  and  exterminate  as  coco  or  nut 
grass ;  and  hogs  are  as  fond  of,  and  root  up  the  ground  as  indus- 
triously to  obtain  the  roots.     Cows  and  horses  also  are  fond  of 
them.     It  should  be  destroyed  as  soon   as   found  in   cultivated 
grounds,  but  it  is  very  valuable  in  permanent  pastures. 

3.  T.  CANINUM,  Bearded  Wheat  Grass,  of  our  northern  States 
is  comparatively  harmless  and    not  likely  to    trouble  southern 
farmers.     And 

4.  T.  COMPOSITUM,    Egyptian    Wheat,  is  only  a    cultivated 
garden  curiosity. 

SEC  ALE. 

5.  CEREALE,    Rye.     Of  the   four    prominent  species    of  rye, 
this  is  the  only  one  cultivated  in   this  country.     It  occupies  a 
place  intermediate  between  barley  and  wheat ;    and  it  is  not  al- 
ways readily  distinguished  by  the  inexperienced  from  them,  es- 
pecially from  wheat.     But  the  barley  spikelet  has  but  one  per- 
fect flower,  that  of  rye  two,  and  that  of  wheat  three  or   more  : 
and  there   are  other  differences.     Rye  has  a  long,  slender  stem, 
bearing  a  terminal,  erect  long-bearded  spike  from  two   to    four 
inches  long. 

Two  varieties  of  rye  have  been  produced  by  cultivation,  win- 
ter and  spring  rye.  The  former  may  be  be  planted  in  fall  or 
spring,  indeed  in  almost  any  month  of  the  year.  It  may  be 
planted  in  late  corn  and  plowed  in  laying  by  the  corn  ;  or  it  may 
be  sown  in  cotton  and  plowed  in  the  last  working,  thus  cheaply 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          71 

preparing  winter  and  spring  pasture ;  or  the  ground  may  be 
prepared  as  for  wheat,  or  oats,  the  rye  planted  from  August  to 
December.  But  as  it  is  sown  in  the  south  almost  exclusively 
for  winter  pasture,  the  earlier  it  can  be  put  in  the  better,  provi- 
ded it  is  not  so  early  as  to  joint  before  it  can  be  pastured.  A 
bushel  and  a  half  per  acre  should  give  a  good  catch  :  if  planted 
early  and  the  ground  in  good  condition  a  bushel  may  do. 

It  grows  well  on  any  good,  well  drained  soil,  but  requires  less 
clay  and  moisture  than  wheat  or  barley,  and  more  sand  and  pot- 
ash. My  objections  to  it  as  a  grazing  plant  are  stated  in  treat- 
ing of  barley. 

Rye  yields  a  light  crop  of  grain  but  it  is  very  nutritious. 
The  straw  is  hard  and  almost  worthless  for  fodder.  But  it 
is  worth  ten  or  fifteen  dollars  a  ton  to  the  manufacturers  of  hats, 
bonnets,  paper,  mats  and  many  other  articles.  To  be  very  val- 
uable, however,  for  most  manufactures,  a  special  machine,  in- 
vented for  the  purpose,  must  be  used  in  threshing  it  so  as  to 
keep  the  straw  straight  and  unbroken. 

In  Europe,  rye  and  wheat  are  often  sown  together,  producing 
the  mixture  called  meslin,  from  which  the  most  wholesome  of  all 
breads  is  made.  Rye  may  be  grown  longer  on  the  same  land 
than  most  other  crops. 

When  seeding,  if  the  season  be  wet,  it  is  very  liable  to  a  fun- 
goid disease,  producing  what  is  called  ergot,  the  grain  assu- 
ming somewhat  the  shape  of  a  cock's  spur  and  hence  called  spur- 
red rye.  These  spurs  are  filled  with  a  dark  mass  having  the 
odor  of  spoiled  fish.  It  is  very  dangerous  to  people  and  ani- 
mals eating  it,  causing  gangrene  and  death.  Yet  it  contains 
several  valuable  medicinal  principles ;  by  the  use  of  which, 
separated  from  the  poisonous  elements,  many  valuable  lives  are 
daily  saved. 

HORDEUM. 

1.  H.  PRATENSE,  Wild  Barley,  Squirrel-tail  Grass. 

Only  a  few  years  ago,  I  noticed  an  occasional  specimen 'of  this 
plant  in  several  parts  of  Mississippi.  Next  year  many  acres  were 
densely  covered  with  it.  It  appears  in  the  latter  part  of  winter 
and  spring,  growing  from  six  to  ten  inches  high,  sometimes 
eighteen,  with  few  leaves.  Cured  for  hay  it  contains  according 
to  Knop  :  water  14.3,  albuminoids  9.6,  carbohydrates  42.0  and 
fat  2.0;  a  fair  quantity  of  nutritive  matter.  But  the  plant  is  so 
small  and  light  as  to  be  unworthy  of  attention  as  a  cultivated 
crop.  Stock  relish  it. 

2.  H.  PusiLLUM,  Barley  Grass  also  is  small,  growing  six  to 
twelve  inches  high.     Cattle  relish  this  grass  and  it  is  nutritious  ; 
but  the  product  is  too  small  to  justify  cultivation. 

3.  H.  JUBATUM,  another  Squirrel-tail  Grass,  widely  diffused 
through  our  northern  States  in    marshes  and  moist    sands  near 


72  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF   GRASSES 

seas  and  lakes,  and  in  moist  prairies,  has  not  yet  found  its  \vu\ 
to  the  more  southern  States.  These  three  grasses  all  look  much 
like  the  cultivated  barley. 

4.  H.  VULGARE,  Common  Barley,  is  one  of  the  first  grains 
used  for  human  food,  being  mentioned  in  the  oldest  records  ex- 
tant. It  adapts  itself  \vith  wonderful  facility  to  all  climates, 
maturing  equally  in  the  heat  of  the  torrid,  and  cold  of  the  frig- 
id zones.  It  is  to  be  treated  here  only  as  a  forage  plant,  and 
two  varieties  only  need  be  mentioned.  The  common  six-rowed 
variety  is  largely  planted  in  this  country,  both  in  the  latter 
part  of  summer,  early  fall  and  spring.  Originally  a  spring  bar- 
ley., it  became  inured  to  winter.  The  rows  are  not  perfectly 
regular,  the  alternate  rows  being  less  prominent.  This,  howev- 
er, is  not  what  is  called  the  true  winter  barley,  square  barley,  or 
Hordeum  hexastichum.  The  common  barley  produces  more 
grain,  but  the  grains  are  not  quite  so  large  as  those  of  the  Two- 
rowed  barley,  Hordeum  distichwn.  The  difference  in  the  yield 
of  the  two,  however,  is  not  very  great,  and  both  may  be  sown 
in  our  more  southern  States  either  in  fall  or  spring. 

There  is  no  •  four-rowed  barley  as  sometimes  stated  and  as 
might  be  supposed  by  not  examining  carefully.  The  ear  or 
head  of  barley  is  what  is  called  a  spike.  At  each  joint  of  the 
spike  are  three  spikelets,  each  with  a  fertile  flower,  in  the  com- 
mon barley.  As  these  triple  spikelets  alternate,  when  the  seeds 
mature,  the  head  becomes  rounded  and  there  appear  six,  more 
or  less  pefect,  rows  of  grain.  In  the  two-rowed  kind,  only  one 
spikelet  at  each  joint  of  the  rachis  has  a  perfect  flower  :  the 
other  two  spikelets  being  reduced  to  sterile  rudiments.  The 
spike  is  longer,  however,  and  the  grain  having  more  room  is  a 
little  larger  than  the  six-rowed  kind. 

I  have  planted  barley  almost  solely  for  winter  pasture-,  the 
grain  being  a  secondary  consideration  ;  and  I  cannot  say  that 
any  thing  has  given  me  more  satisfaction.  I  have  tried  it  re- 
peatedly, in  the  same  fields  and  under  all  the  same  conditions  as 
nearly  as  possible,  with  all  the  other  small  grains;  and  it  inva- 
riably -gave  far  better  results.  I  think  that  on  my  lands  one 
acre  of  barley  affords  as  much  green  food  during  the  winter  as 
the  combined  product  of  one  acre  each  of  wheat,  oats  and  rye. 
When  grazed  down,  it  grows  again  very  soot,,  so  that  it  may  be 
grazed  two  or  three  times  to  once  with  the  others.  It  makes 
larger  and  more  dense  foliage  and  is  greatly  preferred  by  ani- 
mals to  the  others.  I  think  the  barley  decidedly  more  whole- 
some also  than  the  others.  This  is  not  due  probably  to  the 
chemical  composition  of  the  barley,  but  to  its  being  cleaner. 
The  foliage  stands  up  and  hence  does  not  become  BO  bespattered 
with  clay,  sand  and  other  injurious  matters  as  that  of  other 
small  grains.  With  the  latter  much  filth  is  eaten,  especially 
with  rye.  The  leaf  of  this  lies  so  closely  on  the  ground,  that  in 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          73 

grazing  it,  animals  receive  so  much  sand  and  other  dirt  that 
their  teeth  and  stomachs  are  damaged  many  times  and  the  nu- 
tritive function  seriously  obstructed. 

Barley  seems  not  to  be  damaged,  but  rather  benefitted  by 
winter  grazing ;  and  with  me  it  has  never  shown  any  sign  of 
rust  or  other  diseases,  while  all  the  other  grains  around  it  have 
been  utterly  destroyed  by  rust.  -  Possibly  my  lands  may  be 
specially  adapted  to  it. 

Preferably  I  plant  in  September ;  but  everything  favoring,  a 
few  days  earlier  would  not  be  objectionable.  The  quantity  of 
seed  per  acre  should  be  two  and  a  half  or  three  bushels.  It  suc- 
^ceeds  well  on  almost  any  well  drained  land  that  has  not  been 
exhausted.  On  good  land  the  crop  should  be  forty  to  sixty 
bushels  of  seed  per  acre. 

The  proportions  of  nutritive  principles  in  barley  straw  are  as 
nearly  identical  with  those  in  wheat  straw,  as  would  probably 
be  found  in  two  samples  of  the  latter  taken  from  the  same  mow. 
Now  100  pounds  of  barley,  clean  grain,  contains  twelve  ounces 
more  nutritive  matter  than  100  of  clean  corn.  But  the  nutri- 
tive matters  are  differently  proportioned  and  combined  in  the 
two  kinds  of  grain.  The  barley  I  think  more  wholesome  for  aiv- 
imals,  especially  growing  animals.  Arab  horses  in  their  native 
country  are  fed  almost  wholly  on  barley.  Many  pages  might 
be  quoted  to  show  how  highly  it  is  prized  in  foreign  countries 
as  a  forage  plant  and  the  most  gratifying  results  from  its  use  in 
that  way.  I  think  it  has  given  as  good  results  in  this  country 
whenever  tried.  I  prefer  it  to  corn  not  only  for  young  stock, 
but  for  working  animals,  especially  in  warm  weather. 

When  harvesting  barley,  a  portion  should  be  left  standing  in 
the  field  for  the  hogs.  It  carries  them  through  the  hot  months 
in  most  admirable  condition.  It  is,  indeed,  a  most  wholesome 
food  for  them  at  all  times,  and  the  flesh  of  pigs  fed  with  it  has  a 
peculiar  tenderness,  delicacy  and  sweetness,  that  induce  the  con- 
noisseur to  pay  an  extra  price  for  it.  It  is  said  that  barley-fed 
meat  increases  also  in  bulk  when  boiled.  But  because  barley  is 
used  for  raising  bread  and  beer,  it  must  not  be  supposed  to  have 
the  same  effect  on  boiling  meat.  The  improvement  must  be 
made  in  the  live  meat. 

Barley  is  a  good  food  for  all  farm  stock,  including  poultry  ; 
but  specially  as  part  feed  for  milk  cows. 

It  can  be  grown  cheaper  than  corn,  heavier  crops  are  made 
per  acre,  the  crop  is  less  liable  to  accidents  in  growth,  and  when 
harvested  worth  more  for  home  consumption  or  as  a  money 
crop.  But  it  requires  nice  care  in  harvesting.  It  should  be 
cut  as  soon  as  fully  ripe,  tied  in  small  bundles  and  dried  thor- 
oughly and  as  soon  as  practicable.  The  long  beards  and  abun- 
dant chaff  catch  and  hold  much  water  from  dew  and  rains  and 
thus  the  grain  is  very  liable  to  be  injured.  It  should  be  thresh- 


74  KAKMKR'S  BOOK  OF  GEASSES 

ed  as  soon  as  may  be,  spread  in  airy  rooms  and  frequently  stir- 
red till  fully  dry.  In  threshing  the  machine  should  be  run 
slow  and  the  pins  not  so  close  as  for  wheat.  This  is  to  avoid 
breaking  off  the  germ,  (which  is  very  easily  done,)  as  this  would 
render  the  grain  worthless  either  for  seed  or  for  brewing.  It  is 
altogether  safer  for  these  purposes  to  thresh  by  hand.  Seed 
wheat  also  should  be  threshed  by  hand  as  the  machine  breaks 
a  large  per  centage  of  the  grains,  destroying  the  germs. 

'     '  ''  " 


rro.t*    twr    wi  n-;:  ;,,  •  •?  tpqixfb  ••• 

1.  F.  VIRGINICUS,  Wild.  Eye,  Terrell  Grass,  Virginia  Lymv 
Grass. 

This  perennial  grass  is    a  native  of  the  southern    States.     As 
all  farm  stock  except  hogs  are  fond  of  it  and  it  is  green  through 
the  winter  and  spring,  it  has  been  destroyed  when  grazing  ani- 
mals have    access  to  it    at  all  times.     It    is,  however,   found  in 
many  of  our  States  along  the  banks  of  wooded  streams,  of  ditch- 
es, and  in  fence  corners,  among  briers  and  thickets.     It  is  read- 
ily propagated  by  sowing  the  seed,  (two  bushels  per  acre,)  or  by 
separating  and  setting  out  the  plants  from  November  till  April. 
It  will  grow   on  thin  clay,  gravelly,  or  sandy    soil  ;    but  much 
better  on  rich  lands  —  hills,  bottoms   or  alluvials  —  dry  or  rather 
moist  —  on  a  great  variety  of  soils;  in  open  or  wooded  land,  and 
will  thrive  ten,  twenty    or   more  years    on  the   same    land.     It 
grows  two  to  four  feet    high  and  matures  seeds  in  July  and  Au- 
gust, the  spikes  being  erect,  rigid,  dense,  three  inches  long. 
2.  E.  STRIATUS,  Dennett  Grass,  Slender  Hairy  Lyrne  Grass. 
This    also   is    perennial  and  a  native   of  the    southern  States. 
Every  thing  said  of  the  preceding  applies   with  equal  force    to 
this,  except  the  spikes  of  this  are  three  to  seven  inches  long  and 
often  slightly  nodding.     In  the  eastern  States  it  is  small  and  of 
little  value..    But  in  the  extreme   south   it  is  larger  and   more 
valuable.     During  the  last  month  I  have  found  it  in  seed  in  its 
native  haunts  in  many  localities  —  nowhere  less   than   three    or 
four  feet  high.     Cultivation   improves  both  this  and  the  prece- 
ding so  that  they  sometimes  grow  five  feet  high. 

The  spike  of  the  Dennett  grass  is  raised  by  its  long  peduncle 
far  above  the  sheath  of  the  upper  leaf,  while  the  spike  of  the 
Terrell  grass  is  partly  included  in  the  upper  sheath.  The  latter 
is  the  better  of  the  tAvo. 

They  may  be  graced  or  mown  repeatedly  during  spring  and  ear- 
ly summer,  and  grow  rapidly  after  each  mowing.  Where  culti- 
vated if  not  mowed  or  grazed,  they  bloom  and  mature  seed  ear- 
lier, than  in  the  wild  state.  Many  acres  have  been  planted  in 
the  last  few  years;  generally  those  who  have  tried  a  little  have 
been  encouraged  to  extend  it  to  a  few  acres  and  some  to  many 
acres. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          75 

As  hay  it  is  rather  hard  unless  cut  while  young.  It  should 
be  cut  as  soon  as  the  blooms  appear  or  earlier.  It  would  be 
preferable  to  have  these  grasses  for  grazing  or  green  soiling,  and 
to  sow  better  grasses  for  hay. 

By  setting  the  plants  in  the  spring  two  feet  each  way  on  pre- 
pared land  and  cultivating ;  in  the  fall,  the  seed  that  drop  and 
germinate  and  the  tillers  will  cover  the  ground  with  a  good 
winter  pasture.  If  it  .shows  any  sign  of  exhaustion  manure  and 
scarify,  or  plow  solid  in  fall  or  winter  and  harrow.  It  will  soon 
be  in  full  growth. 

3.  E.  CANADENSIS,  Canada Lyme  Grass. 

This  perennial  is  probably  not  found  native  in  any  of  the 
southern  tier  of  States.  It  is  about  equal  in  value  to  either  of 
the  two  preceding. 

Siberian  Lyme  Grass  and  Soft  Lyme  Grass  are  not  found  in  the 
southern  States. 

4.  E.  ARENARIUS,  Upright  Sea  Lyme  Grass  belongs  to  Eu- 
rope.    Sir  Humphrey  Davy  analysing  the  soluble  matter  afford- 
ed by  this  grass  found  that  it   contained  a    large  proportion  of 
sugar,  besides  other   nutritious  matters.     But  it  is  too  hard  to 
make  a  desirable    grass   for   stock ;   though   much  used  mixed 
with  other  grasses  chopped    for  winter   feed  for  cattle,  in    Hol- 
land and  other  places.     It  was  introduced  into  this  country  by 
the  Patent  Office  many  years  ago  and  planted  at  a   number  of 
places.     But  jts  principle  use  in  this  as  in  other  countries  is  the 
same  as  that  of  beach  grass,  to  bind  drifting  sands  and    prevent 
encroachments  of  the  waves.     Its  long,  creeping,  perennial  roots 
well  fit  it  for  this  purpose. 

GYMNOSTICHTJM. 

G.  HYSTRIX.  Bottle-brush  grass  differs  little  from  the  Lyme 
Grasses,  except  in  the  absence  of  glumes.  It  is  a  native,  peren- 
nial, and  a  good  forage  plant.  The  spike,  three  to  six  inches 
long,  when  ripe  resembles  a  bottle  brush.  The  grass  makes  a 
stem  two  to  four  feet  high  and  is  found  along  the  shaded  banks 
of  streams  and  moist  rocky  woodlands. 

LOLIUM. 

1.  L.  PERENNE,  English,  or  Perennial  Rye  Grass. 

This  is  the  first  grass  cultivated  in  England,  over  two  centu- 
ries ago,  and  at  a  still  more  remote  period  in  France.  It  was 
long  more  widely  known  and  cultivated  than  any  other  grass, 
became  adapted  to  a  great  variety  of  soils  and  conditions,  and  a 
vast  number  (seventy  or  more)  varieties  produced ;  some:  of 
which  were  greatly  improved,  while  others  were  inferior  and  be- 
came annuals.  Introduced  into  the  United  States  in  the  first 


76  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GrR ASSES 

quarter  of  the  current  century,  it  has  never  become  very  popu- 
lar, although  shown  by  the  subjoined  analyses  of  Way  not  to  be 
deficient  in  nutritive  matter.  .  In  100  parts  of  the  dried  grass 
cut  in  bloom  were  albuminoids  11.85,  fatty  matters  3.17,  heat 
producing  principles  42.24,  woody  fibre  35.20,  ash  7.54.  The 
more  recent  analysis  of  Wolff  and  Knop,  allowing  for  water, 
gives  rather  more  nutritive  matter  than  this. 

It  grows  rapidly  and  yields  heavy  crops  of  seed,  makes  good 
grazing  and  good  hay.  But  as  with  all  the  Rye  grasses,  to 
make  good  hay  it  must  be  cut  before  passing  the  blossom  stage, 
as  after  that  it  deteriorates  rapidly.  The  roots  being  short,  it 
does  not  bear  drought  well  and  exhausts  the  soil,  dying  out  in  a 
few  years.  In  these  respects  it  is  liable  to  the  same  objections  as 
timothy.  The  stem  one  to  two  feet  high,  has  four  to  six  pur- 
plish joints  and  as  many  dark  green  leaves.  The  flexuous 
spiked  panicle  bearing  the  distant  spikelets,  one  in  each  bend. 

It  should  be  sown  in  August  or  September,  at  the  rate  of 
twenty-five  or  thirty  pounds  or  one  bushel  seed  per  acre. 

2.  L.  ITALICTJM,  Italian  Rye  Grass. 

This  grass  grows  two  or  three  feet  high  and  has  a  broader 
leaf  than  the  preceding.  The  spikelets  are  arranged  on  the 
main  stem  as  in  the  preceding ;  but  differ  in  the  florets  having 
slender  awns,  giving  each  spikelet  the  appearance  of  a  small 
brush.  The  leaves  are  very  dark  green  with  a  metalic  glint ; 
and  a  field,  well  set  with  this  grass  undulating  under  wind  and 
sun,  presents  the  most  delightfully  beautiful  appearance  I  have 
ever  seen  in  the  way  of  grasses  and  green  fields. 

All  the  grass  eating  animals  are  very  fond  of  it  green  or  cured. 
It  is  highly  esteemed  and  cultivated  in  European  countries  and 
is  becoming  better  known  in  America.  Like  the  preceding,  it 
is  adapted  to  many  latitudes,  soils  and  conditions.  Sown  from 
August  to  October,  twenty  or  thirty  pounds  of  seed  per  acre,  it 
affords  good  winter  and  spring  pasture.  But  being  an  annual 
it  must  be  reseeded  every  year,  unless  seed  are  allowed  to  ma- 
ture and  fall.  It  may  be  mowed  very  early  in  the  spring,  some- 
times in  the  winter  as  early  as  December,  and  from  five  to  ten 
times  between  April  and  November. 

On  rich  lands  no  other  grass  will  probably  bear  so  many 
mowings,  nor  is  any  other  better  adapted  to  green  soiling.  It 
is  a  ravenous  feeder  and  thrives  on  the  richest  soils  and  many 
applications  per  year  of  rich  fertilizers.  But  the  enormous 
yield  of  delicious  forage  amply  repays  the  expense  of  such  feed- 
ing, in  the  sleek  coats  and  distended  sides  of  the  happy  colts, 
horses,  sheep  and  cattle,  the  improved  health  of  the  animals, 
the  big  pails  brimming  with  rich  delicious  milk  and  the  well- 
filled  tubs  of  beautiful,  fine  flavored  butter. 

In  the  darying  districts  of  Europe,  where  irrigation  is  em- 
ployed, the  quantity  of  forage  afforded  by  this  grass  is  simply 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.         77 

enormous.  But  to  obtain  the  best  results,  it  must  be  abundant- 
ly fertilized.  This  grass  stands  drought  well  and  grows  most 
luxuriantly  in  our  southern  States.  If  not  kept  grazed  or  mow- 
ed, however,  the  leaves  cover  the  ground  so  deeply  and  densely, 
that  an  excess  of  rain  in  very  hot  weather  in  the  extreme  south 
causes  it  to  rot  suddenly,  destroying  even  the  roots.  This  I 
have  never  seen  or  heard  mentioned  by  any  other  person.  But 
it  occurred  on  my  own  farm  one  season  where  I  was  reserving 
a  lot  for  seed. 

Way's  analysis  of  this  grass  taken  green  from  the  field  shows 
100  parts  to  contain  :  water  75.61,  albuminoids  2.45,  fatty  mat- 
ters .80,  heat  producing  principles  14.11,  woody  fibre  4.82,  ash 
2.21 ;  or  about  17.36  nutritive  matters.  This  at  first  blush  looks 
little  it  is  true,  and  less  when  compared  as  is  usually  done  with 
timothy  cut* and  analysed  in  the  same  condition,  the  latter 
containing  29.21  of  nutritive  matters  and  57.21  water;  or  18.40 
per  cent  less  water  and  11.85  more  nutritive  matters.  In  the 
dried  state,  Way's  analyses  show  that  the  Italian  Rye  grass  con- 
tained 71.19  per  cent  of  nutritive  matter  and  timothy  only  68.26. 
Animals  are  very  fond  of  it  for  grazing,  green  soiling,  or  as 
hay  ;  selecting  it  among  other  grasses.  They  are  usually  the 
best  judges  of  what  is  adapted  to  their  own  conditions  and  the 
needs  of  their  systems.  And  the  effects  this  grass  produces  on 
their  general  condition  and  upon  the  products  of  the  dairy  con- 
firm the  judgement  of  the  cows.  Now  it  is  true  that  cut  and 
fed  green  Italian  Rye  grass  contains  much  more  water  than  tim- 
othy. The  cow  decides  that  this  is  no  disadvantage,  as  in  con- 
sequence she  has  to  go  seldomer  to  and  take  less  water  from  the 
pool.  It  is  mixed  intimately  in  the  grass  ready  for  her  use. 
The  grass  is  tenderer,  more  easily  masticated  and  digested  and 
the  nutrition  more  completely  assimilated,  thus  reducing  waste 
of  muscular  and  nerve  tissue  and  heat  producing  principles. 
The  total  crop  of  timothy  for  the  year  is  besides  small  compar- 
ed with  that  of  the  Italian  rye  grass  to  the  acre ;  and  but  two 
cuttings  at  most  of  timothy  may  be  had,  while  the  latter  may  be 
cut  many  times. 

3.  L.  ANNUTJM,  Annual  Rye  Grass,  according  to  Way's  anal- 
ysis, contains  in  100  parts,  green  :  water  69.00,  albuminoids  2.96, 
fatty  matters  .69,  heat  producing  principles  12.89,  woody    fibre 
12.47,  ash  1.99.     Some  have  fancied  this  variety  because  it  pro- 
duces taller  stems   and  more  of  them  than  some  of  the    others. 
But  the  proportion  of  foliage  is  less  and  the  hay  inferior. 

4.  L.  ARVENSE  found  in  the  south  is  a  worthless  species  with 
small  stems  only  from  six  to  twelve  inches  high. 

5.  L.  TEMULENTUM,  Poison   Rye     Grass.     This    pernicious 
weed  is  sometimes  found  in  grain  fields  growing  two  feet   high 
with  the  characteristic   flexuous   spikelet  bearing  stem  about  a 
foot  long.     It  is  very  injurious  to  people  or  animals   eating  it 


78  I1' Alt  A!  Jili'fi     BOOK   OF     GltAHSKM 

with  grain  or  in  bread  made  from  flour  contaminated  with  it. 
Hence -the  wisdom  in  selecting  this  weed  in  constructing  the 
parable  in  Matthew  XIII,  25 — 36  ;  it  being  the  darnel  or  tares 
there  mentioned  and  almost  the  only  cereal  possessing,  when 
sound,  injurious  properties.  It  may  be  distinguised  from  other 
species  by  the  very  long  glumes  equalling  the  spikelets  in 
length.  k^i  < 

It  is  the  Zizania  of  the  parable,  transferred  into  the  Latin 
Vulgate,  the  Italian,  Spanish  and  some  other  verso ns ;  transla- 
ted Ivraie  in  the  French  and  Darnel  in  most  English  versions, 
but  unfortunately  'tares'  in  King  James'  version.  The  tare, 
vetch,  or  any  other  bean  could,  as  soon  as  sprouted,  be  recog- 
nized as  not  at  all  like  wheat.  But  this  plant,  even  in  the 
spike,  resembles  wheat,  and  hence  the  force  of  the  parable.  It 
is  probably  the  infelix  loiium  of  Virgil. 

6.  L.  MULTIFLORUM,  Many  flowered  Darnel  is  very  hand- 
some and  showy,  but  not  much  cultivated  or  esteemed  any 
where. 

AIEA  . 

1.  A.  FLEXTJOSA,  Wood  Hair  Grass. 

This  perennial  plant  grows  one  or  two  feet  high  on  rocky 
hills  and  mountains  and  sandy  soils,  but  not  on  clays.  Cattle 
and  sheep  eat  it,  but  it  produces  very  little  nourishment  to  the 
acre.  It  is  really  not  worth  cultivating  for  feed,  but  affords  a 
pretty  addition  to  bouquets. 

2.  A.    CJESPITOSA,  Tufted  Hair  Grass. 

Grows  in  clumps  or  tufts  in  tough  marshy  lands,  preferably 
where  water  stands  much  of  the  time,  but  is  occasionally  found 
in  pastures  or  meadows.  It  is  worthless. 

The  other  species  are  not  found  in  the  southern  States. 

DANTHONIA. 

1.  D.  SPICATA,  Wild  Oat  Grass,  Old  Fog,  White  Top. 

This  is  a  native  perennial  growing  on  dry,  barren  soils  with 
a  slender  stem  ten  to  eighteen  inches  high  bearing  a  few  spike- 
lets. 

2.  D.  SERICEA,  Taller  Wild  Oat  Grass,  also  a  native,  grows 
on  dry  or  moist  sandy   soils,  with  stem   two  feet   high   bearing 
many    spikelets.     These    are   grasses  of  little  value. 

TKISETUM. 

1.  T.  PALUSTRE,  Marsh  Oat  Grass. 

This  is  found  in  swamps,  and  has  a  feeble  stem  one  or  two 
feet  high  with  a  long  narrow  panicle. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS*          79 

2.  T.  MOLLE,  Downy  Persoon,  with  a   stern  six  or  eight  in- 
ches long  is  found  on  rocky  banks  and  mountains.     Both  these 
grasses  are  perennial,  but  have  no  agricultural  value. 

3.  T.  PUBESCENS,  Downy  Oat  ,:Grass   is   a   valuable   forage 
plant,  but  has  not  been  introduced  in  the  south. 

A  VENA. 

1.  A.  PRATENSIS,  Meadow  Oat  Grass. 

This  is  a  perennial  native  of  Great  Britain,  where  it  grows 
about  eighteen  inches  high  in  pastures.  It  flourishes  best  on 
dry  soils  and  yields  a  medium  quality  of  hay.  As  some  of  our. 
recent  writers  have  evidently  confounded  this  with  the  lall 
Meadow  Oat  Grass  (described  on  another  page)  and  have  given 
it  qualities  that  belong  to  the  latter,  it  is  well  to  give  a  rather 
minute  description.  "Spikelets  three  to  many  flowered,  with 
an  open,  large,  diffused  panicle ;  lower  pale  seven  to  eleven 
nerved,  with  a  long,  usually  twisted  awn  on  the  back;  stamens 
three ;  grain  oblong,  grooved  on  the  side,  usually  hairy  and 
free." — Flint.  Any,  who  purchase  and  plant  seeds  of  this  grass 
with  the  expectation  of  obtaining  the  large  winter  grazing,  soil- 
ing, hay  and  seed  crops  of  which  they  may  have  read,  will  as- 
suredly reap  a  large  harvest  of  disappointment  and  vexation. 
Mr.  Howard,  in  his  pamphlet,  gives  an  excellent  account  of 
Tall  Meadow  Oat  Grass,  but  unfortunately  calling  it  Meadow 
Oat  Grass,  has  no  doubt  inadvertently  misled  other  writers  into 
some  singular  errors. 

2.  A.  FLAVESCENS,  Yellow  Oat  Grass, 

This  perennial  is  a  native  of  France  and  grows  naturally  on 
light,  dry  soils.  By  some  farmers  in  many  parts  of  the  world, 
it  is  regarded,  as  a  hay  and  pasture  grass,  the  most  useful  of  this 
genus.  It  has  been  tried  in  this  country  to  only  a  limited  extent. 
Way's  analysis  of  it  shows  in  100  parts  of  the  dried  grass :  al- 
buminoids 7.48,  fatty  matters  2.61,  heat  producers  47.08,  woody 
fibre  35.95,  ash  6.88.  It  is  much  better  mixed  for  pasture  than 
for  other  purposes,  its  unusually  large  quantity  of  bitter  extract- 
ive matter  rendering  it  specially  grateful  to  cattle. 

3.  A.  STRIATA,  The  Purple  Wild  Oat  of  our  northern  States 
is  of  little  worth  ;  and 

4.  A.  PR^COX,  Early  Wild  Oat,  found  in   the  northern  tier 
of  the  southern  States  is  a  dwarf,  threesor  four  inches  high  and 
merits  no  further  attention. 

5.  A.  SATIVA,  Common  Oat. 

This  is  well  known  every  where  and  has  always  been  a  favor- 
ite crop  with  me,  both  for  winter  pasture,  hay  and  grain.  The 
'red  rust  proof '  variety  is  preferred  to  all  others,  the  potato  oat 
being  my  second  choice.  The  former  has  never  rusted  with  me. 
The  latter  has  not  been  sufficiently  tested  to  be  assured  against 


80  KAKMKK'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

\ 

rust.  The  oat  is  so  well  known  that  no  discussion  of  it  is  need- 
ed here.  It  is  much  superior  to  Indian  corn  for  feeding  hor- 
ses and  mules.  I  could  not  be  induced  to  feed  my  own  stock 
mainly  on  Indian  corn.  The  horse  fed  with  oats  has  more 
elasticity,  spirit  and  bottom,  lasts  much  longer  and  is  capable  of 
more  prolonged  exertion.  I  consider  three  bushels  (96  pounds) 
of  oats  equivalent  to  two  bushels  (112  pounds)  corn  for  horse 
food,  with  many  advantages  over  the  latter. 

ARRHENATHERUM. 

A.  AVENACETJM,  Tall  Oat  Grass. 

This  is  called  also  Tall  meadow  oat  grass,  Evergreen  grass  in 
Virginia  and  other  southern  States,  and  it  is  the  Tall  oat  (A ve- 
na elatior)  of  Linnaeus.  It  is  closely  related  to  the  common 
oats  and  has  a  beautiful  open  panicle,  leaning  slightly  to  one 
side.  "Spikelets  two-flowered  and  a  rudiment  of  a  third,  open  ; 
lowest  flower  staminate  or  sterile,  with  a  long  bent  awn  below 
the  middle  of  the  back." — Flint. 

It  is  widely  naturalized  and  well  adapted  to  a  great  variety 
of  soils.  On  sandy,  or  gravelly  soils  it  succeeds  admirably, 
growing  two  or  three  feet  high.  On  rich  dry  upland  it  grows 
from  five  to  seven  feet  high.  It  has  an  abundance  of  perennial, 
long  fibrous  roots  penetrating  deeply  in  the  soil,  being  therefore 
less  affected  by  drought  or  cold,  and  enabled  to  yield  a  large 
quantity  of  foliage,  winter  and  summer.  These  advantages  ren- 
der it  one  of  the  very  best  grasses  for  the  south  both  for  grazing, 
being  evergreen,  and  for  hay,  admitting  of  being  cut  twice  a 
year.  It  is  probably  the  best  winter  grass  that  can  be  obtained. 
It  stands  high  in  nutritive  principles  as  will  be  seen  by 

WAY'S  ANALYSIS. 

Green.  Dry. 
Water,                                                         72.65 

Albuminoids  or  flesh  forming  principles,  3.54  12.95 

Fatty  matter,                                                 .87  3.19 

Heat  producing  principles,                      11.21  38. .03 

Woody  fibre,                                              9.37  34.24 

Mineral  matter,  or  ash,                              2.36  11.59 

100.00  100.00 

It  will  make  twice  as  much  hay  as  timothy  and  containing  a 
greater  quantity  albuminoids,  and  less  of  heat  producing  prin- 
ciples, it  is  better  adapted  to  the  uses  of  the  southern  farmer, 
while  it  exhausts  the  surface  soil  less  and  may  be  grazed  indef- 
initely except  after  mowing.  To  make  good  hay  it  must  be 
cut  the  instant  it  blooms  and,  after  cut,  must  not  be  wet  by  dew 
or  rain  which  damages  it  greatly  in  quality  and  appearance. 


AND  OTHER  FOE  AGE  PLANTS.  81 

For  green  soiling  it  may  be  cut  four  or  five  times  with  favor- 
able seasons.  In  from  six  to  ten  days  after  blooming  the  seeds 
begin  to  ripen  and  fall,  the  upper  ones  first.  It  is  therefore  a 
little  troublesome  to  save  the  seed.  As  soon  as  those  at  the  top 
of  the  panicle  ripen  sufficiently  to  begin  to  drop,  the  heads 
should  be  cut  off  and  dried,  when  the  seeds  will  all  thresh  out 
readily  and  be  matured.  After  the  seeds  are  riye  and  taken  off 
the  long  abundant  leaves  and  stems  are  still  green 
and,  being  mowed  make  good  hay. 

It  may  be  sown  in  March  or  April  and  mowed  the  same  season  ; 
but  for  heavier  yield  it  is  better  to  sow  in  September  or  Octo- 
ber. Along  the  more  southerly  belt  from  the^  31°  parallel 
southward  it  may  be  sown  in  November  and  onward  till  the 
middle  of  December.  Whenever  sown  it  is  one  of  the  most  cer- 
tain grasses  to  have  a  good  catch.  ISfot  less  than  2  bushels  (14 
pounds)  per  acre  should  be  sown.  Like  timothy,  on  inhospi- 
table soils,  the  root  may  sometimes  become  bulbous.  The  aver- 
age annual  nutrition  yielded  by  this  grass  in  the  southern  belt 
is  probably  twice  as  great  as  in  Pennsylvania  and  other  north- 
ern States. 

HOLCTJS. 

1.  H.  LANATUS,  Velvet  Grass,  Meadow  Soft  Grass. 

In  the  eastefn  States  this  grass  is  called  Salem  Grass  and 
White  Timothy ;  in  the  south  Velvet  Lawn  Grass  and  Velvet 
Mesquit  Grass;  in  England  Woolly  Soft  Grass  and  Yorkshire 
White;  on  the  continent  it  has  three  French,  two  German,  one 
each  Dutch,  Danish  and  Sweedish  names.  Yet  it  has  been  sent 
to  me  for  name,  from  many  places  in  many  States  and  more  fre- 
quently than  any  other  grass.  Having  found  its  way  to  Texas, 
how  long  ago  would  perhaps  be  difficult  to  ascertain,  people  go- 
ing there  from  the  older  States  have  sent  back  seeds  to  their 
friends  calling  it  Texas  Velvet  Mesquit  Grass,  supposing  that  it 
is  a  native  of  that  State.  So  far  as  has  come  to  my  knowledge 
nine-tenths  of  all  the  so  called  Mesquit  grass  planted  in  the 
southern  States  is  this  same  European  Velvet  Grass. 

This  grass  is  so  beautiful  and  different  from  all  others  as  to 
arrest  the  prompt  attention  of  the  most  listless  person.  It 
grows  much  larger  in  some  of  the  southern  States  than  in  the 
eastern  or  in  England;  and  it  seems  too,  to  be  more  valuable 
here.  It  grows  two  to  four  feet  high  here  with  compound  pani- 
cle variously  tinted-frosty,  pale,  greenish,  pinkish,  reddish  etc. 
The  leaves,  sheaths  and  joints  are  covered  with  soft  downy 
hairs,  giving  the  plant  the  touch  and  appearance  of  the  softest 
velvet.  With  a  moderate  magnifying  power  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  stem,  sheaths,  leaves  and  branches  of  the  panicle  are 
marked  by  longitudinal  striae,  green  and  white,  the  latter  being 


82  FAKMJEK'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

the  narrower.     It  is  the  mingled  tints  of  these  stripes  that  give 
the  peculiar  shade  to  this  grass.  • 

Velvet  grass  may  be  readily  propagated  by  sowing  the  seed 
or  by  dividing  and  setting  the  roots  ;  and  it  will  grow  on  almost 
any  land  however  poor.  It  luxuriates  in  moist  peaty  lands,  but 
will  grow  on  poor  sandy  or  clay  hill  lands  and  produce  remuner- 
ative crops  where  few  other  plants  will  make  any  thing.  It  has 
been  cultivated  in  North  Carolina  on  such  land  and,  after  cut- 
ting and  allowed  to  grow  again,  plowed  under  with  so  much  ad- 
vantage that  other  crops  were  subsequently  produced.  Hon.  H. 
W.  L.  Lewis  of  Louisiana  has  cultivated  this  grass  many  years 
with  great  satisfaction.  He  tried  it  various  ways.  One,  which 
he  approves,  is  to  prepare  the  ground  well  and  sow  turnips  in 
rows  two  and  a  half  feet  apart  in  July  or  August.  When  up 
thin  to  six  or  eight  inches,  cultivate  once  or  twice  and  sow  the 
grass  seed  broadcast  and  brush  in.  Little  or  nothing  is  seen  of 
the  grass  till  the  turnip  crop  is  taken  off;  then  the  first  warm 
days  in  January  and  February  give  the  grass  a  rapid  growth. 
From  that  time  a  part  is  cut  daily  for  the  cattle  and  work  hor- 
ses, one  acre  affording  an  abundant  daily  feed  for  six  horses  till 
oats  are  ready  to  cut.  Then,  ceasing  to  cut,  it  matures  five  or 
six  bushels  of  seed. 

According  to  Way's  analysis  100  parts  of  velvet  grass  dried 
at  212°  F.  yielded :  albuminoids  11.52,  fatty  matters  3.56,  heat- 
ing principles  39.25,  woody  fibre  39.30,  ash  6.37 ;  showing  that 
in  flesh  and  fat  forming  principles  it  surpasses  timothy  skghtly, 
though  not  equaling  it  in  heat  producers.  Yet  some  of  our 
northern  as  well  as  English  farmers  tell  us  it  is  an  inferior  grass, 
not  relished  by  cattle  etc.  This  cannot  be  because  of  any  lack 
in  quantity  of  nutritive  matters  as  shown  by  Way's  analysis. 
This  will  be  still  further  manifest  by  considering  Sinclair's  Wo- 
burn  experiments.  Let  us  use  one  of  the  best,  orchard  grass, 
for  the  comparison.  Cut  in  bloom  from  rich  sandy  soil  it  yield- 
ed green  per  acre,  27,905  pounds  which  dried  gave  11,859 
pounds,  containing  1,089  pounds  nutritive  matters.  Velvet 
grass,  cut  in  bloom  from  stiff  clay  loam,  yielded  19,057  pounds, 
which  dried  gave  6,661  pounds,  containing  1,191  pounds  nu- 
tritive matter.  Of  the  orchard  grass  64  drams  gave  122  grains 
nutritive  matter,  while  64  drams  of  velvet  grass  gave  240  grains 
nutritive  matter.  The  advantage  seems  to  be  all  the  way 
through  in  favor  of  velvet  grass. 

The  reason  then  why  cattle  do  not  prefer  it,  is  not  because  of 
its  deficiency  in  nutrition,  but  of  its  combination.  It  is  deficient 
simply  in  saline  and  bitter  extractive  matters,  which  cattle  rel- 
ish in  grasses. 

It  is  by  no  means  the  best  of  our  grasses ;  but  best  for  some 
lands  and  on  such  lands  more  profitable  than  other  grasses. 
Other  grasses  are  more  profitable  to  me. 


AND  OTHER"  FORAGE  PLANTS.          83 

It  should  be  sown  from  August  to  October,  fourteen  pounds, 
equal  to  two  bushels,  per  acre.  Northward  it  is  perennial;  in 
the  south  not  strictly  so.  It  seems  to  haYe  been  greatly  im- 
proved by  acclimating  in  Texas  and  other  southern  States  and 
this  is  true  of  some  of  the  other  grasses  and  forage  plants. 

2.  H.  MOLLIS,  Creeping  Soft  Grass. 

This  has  a  shorter,  more  open  panicle  than  the  preceding,  but 
the  same  soft,  woolly  appearance.  It  grows  on  a  great  variety 
of  soils,  but  its  strong  creeping  roots  render  it  undesirable 
where  we  have  so  many  better  grasses  for  all  purposes. 

HlEROCHLOA. 

H.  BOREALIS,  Seneca,  Vanilla,  or  Holy  Grass. 

This  fragrant  grass  has  strong  creeping  roots  and  little  foliage ; 
and  though  cattle  eat  it,  it  is  not  desirable  for  this  country. 

2.  H.  ALPINA,  Alpine  Holy  Grass,  found  in  the  northern 
States  is  still  less  valuable. 

ANTHOXANTHTJM. 

A.  ODORATUM,  Sweet-scented  Vernal  Grass. 

This  is  an  early  spring  and  late  fall  grass,  and  best  known  of 
the  two  fragrant  species.  A  natiYe  of  Europe,  it  is  naturalized 
in  most  of  our  States  to  some  extent,  planted  in  gardens  for  use 
in  bouquets,  in  meadows  to  flavor  hay  and  in  pastures  to  give  va- 
riety and  with  a  view,  probably  erroneous,  of  improving  the 
quality  of  milk  and  butter  obtained  from  cows  feeding  on  it. 
The  grass  rubbed  in  the  hands  imparts  its  aromatic  odor,  as  it 
does  also  to  hay  with  which  it  is  cured.  This  is  due  to  benzoic 
acid  found  in  this  grass,  or  rather  to  an  aromatic  oil  associated 
with  the  acid. 

Way's  analysis  of  this  grass  dried  at  212°  F.  .shows  in  100 
parts :  albuminoids  10.43,  fatty  matters  3.41,  heat  producing 
principles  43.48,  woody  fibre  36.36,  ash  6.32.  The  proportion 
of  nutritive  matter  is  very  considerable,  but  the  yield  per  acre 
is  small.  This  and  the  fact  that  cattle  do  not  relish  it  alone  in- 
dicate that  it  would  be  profitless  sown  alone.  Hence  it  is  al- 
ways properly  mixed  with  other  grasses  for  pasture  or  meadow. 
It  is  perennial  and  hardy,  and  grows  one  or  two  feet  high. 

The  palet  which  encloses  the  ripe  seed  has  on  the  back  a 
long  twisted  and  bent  awn.  This  gives  the  seed  a  property 
similar  to  that  possessed  by  the  "animated  oat."  Place  the 
seed  in  the  moistened  hand  and  the  awn,  absorbing  the  moist- 
ure, is  thereby  made  to  untwist  and  cause  the  seed  to  move  like 
an  insect.  It  is  by  this  action  of  the  awn  and  palet  that  the 
seed  is  lifted  out  from  the  other  parts  of  the  spikelet  and  thus 
prevented  from  germinating  before  matured  in  wet  weather. 


84  FARMER'S  BOOK  O.F  GRASSES 

The  seeds  weigh  six  pounds  to  the  bushel.  Two  pounds 
should  be  planted  in  mixtures. 

MILIUM. 

M.  EFFUSUM,  Wild  Millet  Grass. 

This  foreigner  has  become  naturalized  northward,  but  I  have 
not  found  it  in  the  south.  It  grows  from  three  to  six  feet  high 
from  a  perennial  root  and  has  broad,  flat,  thin  leaves,  contain- 
ing little  nutritious  matter.  It  is  not  desirable  on  the  farm. 
The  closely  allied  genus 

AMPHICARPUM  is  found  in  the  southern  States  where  it  is 
native.  There  are  two  species  A.  purshii  and  A.  Floridanum, 
the  latter  a  new  species  found  by  Mr.  Chapman.  Neither  is  of 
sufficient  importance  to  require  further  mention  here. 

CYNOSURTJS. 

C.  CRISTATUS,  Crested  Dog's  Tail. 

This  has  been  introduced  into  this  country  spar- 
ingly ;  and  though  nutritious  it  is  not  much  esteemed,  being 
short  and  soon  becoming  hard.  According  to  Way  100  parts 
dried  contained:  albuminoids  11.08,  fats  3.54,  heat  producers 
52.64,  Avoody  fibre  26.36,  ash  6.38.  It  is  good  in  mixture  for 
sheep  walks  and  lawns,  ten  or  twelve  pounds  per  acre  of  seed 
being  required.  It  grows  on  dry,  sandy,  calcareous  uplands. 

PHALARIS. 

1.  P.  INTERMEDIA,  American,  or  Stewart's  Canary  Grass. 

This  is  a  beautiful  native  grass  of  the  southern  States,  highly 
esteemed,  by  the  few  who  grow  it,  for  winter  and  spring  gra- 
zing, soiling,  and  hay.  The  variety,  (angusta)  especially  is 
much  larger  and  more  valuable.  It  grows  two  or.  three  feet 
high,  and  in  swamps  five  feet,  with  many  leaves  four  to  ten  in- 
ches long  and  spike  two  to  four  inches  long  and  somewhat  re- 
sembling the  head  of  timothy.  Stock  like  it  well  especially  as 
hay.  Mr.  D.  Stewart  of  Louisiana  having  tested  other  grasses 
prefers  this  for  quantity  and  quality  for  winter  and  spring  gra- 
zing, and  for  soiling  for  milk  cows.  In  some  localities  it  is 
called  Gilbert's  Belief  grass  and  in  others  California  timothy. 

There  is  much  testimony  from  many  parts  of  the  south  of  the 
same  import ;  and  this  grass  is  doubtless  worthy  of  extended, 
careful  testing.  Never  having  been  analysed,  we  have  not  at 
hand  the  means  of  estimating  chemically  its  comparative  nutri- 
tive merits.  An  analysis  would  probably,  as  in  many  other 
cases,  verify  the  judgement  of  the  intelligent  farmers  who  have 
grown  this  grass.  Being  a  native,  it  is  specially  desirable  to 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          85 

grow  it  with  a  view  to  improvement.  As  has  happened  with  so 
many  other  plants,  proper  soil  and  culture  will  probably  dem- 
onstrate much  worth  and  improvement  in  this  grass  and  partic- 
ularly the  variety. 

2.  *P.  ARUNDINACEA,  Reed  Canary  Grass. 
This  coarse,  rough  grass  growing  naturally  in,  and  about  the 
margins  of  marshes,  shallow  lakes  and  streams,  possesses  adapt- 
ability to  a  variety  of  soils,  wet  and  dry,  and  varies  considera- 
bly in  the  coloring  of  foliage  and  flowers.  On  dry  lands  the 
leaves  become  striped  forming  the  garden  variety  known  as  rib- 
bon grass.  The  cylindrical  stem  from  two  to  seven  feet  high 
bears  five  or  six  broad  leaves,  light  green  in  wet  places,  various- 
ly striped  in  dry.  It  is  a  beautiful  plant. 

Although  all  the  analyses  I  have  seen  show  considerable,  and 
some  a  large  proportion  of  nutritious  matter,  cattle  do  not  relish 
it  well.  In  the  Woburn  experiments,  one  acre  of  black,  sandy 
loam  yielded  27,225  pounds  of  grass,  losing  in  drying  14,973 
pounds,  and  giving  1,701  pounds  nutritive  matter.  A  ten- 
acious clay  soil  yielded  34,031  pounds  of  grass,  losing  in  drying 
17,015  pounds  and  giving  2,126  pounds  of  nutritive  matter. 
According  to  Scheven  and  Bitthausen  the  dried  grass  showed  in 
100  parts:  protein  6.12,  fat  1.30,  heat  producing  principles  40.63 
woody  fibre  43.55,  and  ash  8.40. 

Yet  it  does  not  produce  as  much  flesh  or  milk  as  its  composi- 
tion would  warrant  us  to  expect.  But  ™re  should  remember 
that  when  in  bloom,  as  it  was  in  the  Woburn  trials,  although 
it  contains  more  nutritive  matter  than  at  an  earlier  stage,  yet  it 
has  already  become  hard,  woody  and  comparatively  indigestible. 
If  utilized  therefore  for  stock-feed,  it  should  be  cut  while  young 
and  tender,  only  a  foot  or  two  high.  It  may  thus  be  cut  two  or 
three  times  each  summer.  It  should  never  be  allowed  to  reach 
full  bloom,  because  subject  to  attacks  of  a  fungous  growth  sim- 
ilar to,  or  perhaps  identical  with  spurred  rye,  or  ergot,  which  is 
considered  very  fatal  to  cattle  eating  it. 

This  hard  grass  might  be  rendered  tender  and  digestible  by 
placing  in  silos  or  by  ensilage,  as  now  practised  in  France  and 
by  a  few  in  America,  with  com  fodder  for  winter  forage. 

This  grass  may  be  propagated  by  dividing  and  transplanting 
the  roots  every  square  foot,  or  by  sowing  the  seed  at  the  rate  of 
half  bushel  or  twenty-five  pounds  per  acre. 

In  marshy  lands  it  weaves  such  strong  webs  of  roots  that  it 
can  bear  up  teams  of  oxen  and  loaded  wagons.  It  retains  wash- 
ings, thus  assisting  to  fill  up  and  reclaim  small  marshes.  It 
may  obstruct  small  streams  and  thus  produce  other  marshes 
however,  which  must  be  guarded  against. 

In  conclusion,  as  we  have  so  many  better  grasses  for  agricul- 
tural purposes,  I  would  not  recommend  to  cultivate  this  for 
forage. 


80  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

3.  P.  OANARIENSIS,  Common  Canary  Grass,  partially  natu- 
ralized in  some  localities,  is  pretty,  and,  when  young,  relished 
by  cattle;  but  it  is  cultivated  only  for  the  seeds  for  bird-feed. 

P  ASP  ALUM. 

In  the  southern  States  there  are  twenty  species  of  Paspaluin 
recognized.  No  trivial  name  has  been  generally  adopted  for 
any  of  them.  The  name  'water  grass'  has  been  applied  to  one 
or  two  of  them  that  grow  not  in  the  water  but  in  cultivated 
fields;  but  is  only  of  local  use  and  not  distinctive  from  having 
been  longer  appropriated  and  more  generally  given  to  several 
other  grasses.  Paspaluin  is  more  generally  used;  and  there  is 
no  reason  why  it  should  not  exclude  all  other  names.  The  sev- 
eral species  can  then  be  designated  by  adding  a  word  marking 
some  characteristic  of  each. 

Except  two,  these  paspalums  are  all  perennials.  They  are  all 
succulent,  tender,  nutritious,  hardy,  thrifty  and  relished  by  all 
grass-eating  animals.  They  fill  the  soil  with  a  matting  of  roots 
and  cover  the  surface  densely  with  luxuriant  foliage  from  early 
spring  till  autumnal  frost.  In  some  localities  from  this  dense, 
rather  smooth  covering  where  grazed,  they  are  called  as  if  one, 
'carpet  grass.'  But  this  name,  also  having  been  previously  ap- 
propriated, is  not  distinctive.  Several  species  are  often  found 
on  the  same  common,  arriving  at  maturity  at  different  periods, 
and  some  are  in  perfection  throughout  the  season. 

The  genus  as  a  whole  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  all  our  na- 
tive southern  pasture  grasses,  perhaps  I  should  add,  hay  grasses. 
For  compared  with  three  of  the  best  known  and  esteemed  culti- 
vated grasses  the  nutritive  matter  they  contain  is  in  the  follow- 
ing order  :  timothy  67.26,  paspalum  65.85,  orchard  60.99,  blue 
grass  56.04.  Although  this  shows  timothy  containing  a  little 
more  nutritive  matter,  yet,  being  less  digestible,  it  does  not 
make  so  good  a  hay  as  paspalum. 

Mr.  Collier's  analysis  shows  that  1.  Paspalum  Iceve  contains  in 
TOO  parts  :  oil  1.74,  wax  1.0*2,  sugars  8. 86,  gum  and  dextrin  5.47, 
cellulose  27.72.  amylaceous  cellulose  26.67,  alkaline  extract 
13.95,  albuminoids  8.14,  ash  6.43.  The  ashes  were  found  to 
contain  potassium  oxide  25.44,  sodium  1.12,  sodium  oxide  .60, 
calcium  oxide  9.36,  magnesium  oxide  5.56,  sulphuric  acid  5.64, 
phosphoric  acid  6.18,  silicic  acid  44.65,  chlorine  1.73. 

Another  farmer  and  myself  have  spent  our  lives  so  far  in  the 
same  vicinity.  He  has  always  been  widely  known  for  the  good 
condition  in  which  he  keeps  all  his  animals  and  for  liberal  feed- 
ing. For  twenty-five  years  he  has  been  feeding  this  grass  ;  and 
for  many  years  has  had  a  meadow  of  this  grass  alone,  from 
which  without  ever  having  seeded,  he  annually  mows  about  two 
tons  of  hay  per  acre.  Drovers,  who  have  been  in  the  habit  of 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          87 

stopping  with  him  every  year,  declare  this  hay  to  be  unsurpass- 
ed for  excellency  by  any  hay  produced  in  any  other  State. 

This  Paspalum  Iceve,  Smooth  Erect  Paspalum  is  perennial, 
growing  naturally  in  dry  woods,  margins  of  fields,  and  open 
meadows,  two  to  four  feet  high,  with  three  to  five  slender  spikes 
three  or  four  inches  long  near  the  top  of  the  simple  erect  stem. 
The  leaves  are  rather  long  and  broad.  It  grows  rapidly  in  the 
cotton  fields,  even  on  poor  clay  and  sandy  hills.  The  seeds  are 
large  and  nutritious  and  fall  easily  while  apparently  green, 
though  really  mature,  the  stems  and  foliage  remaining  green 
long  after.  It  should  therefore  be  cut  before  the  seeds  get  ripe 
enough  to  fall  off.  It  is  usually  cut  once  a  year.  It  might  be 
cut  two  or  three  times  with  much  more  profit. 

2.  P.  PR^COX,  Early  Paspalum,  grows  in  the  same  localities 
as  the  preceding,  erect,  about  the  same  height  and  having  three 
to  six  spikes.  Its  leaves  are  narrower  and  the  sheaths  often 
purplish.  The  seeds  are  in  pairs  arranged  in  three  rows  on  the 
straight  flattened  rachis,  and  the  glume  three  nerved,  often  dis- 
colored. The  preceding  has  the  glume  with  five  nerves  and  the 
single  seeds  arranged  in  two  rows  on  a  flexuous  rachis. 

#.  P.  RACEMULOSUM,  Stemmed  Paspalum,  grows  also  in 
same  localities  as  the  preceding,  two  or  three  teet  high,  bearing 
two  or  three  erect,  slender  spikes  four  inches  long  ;  seeds  single 
or  by  pairs  distinctly  pedicelled,  distant  on  the  filiform  rachis. 
The  leaves  are  long  linear,  glaucous,  sprinkled  as  are  the  sheaths 
with  long  white  hairs. 

4.  P.  CILIATIFOLIUM,  Hairy  Slender  Paspalum. 

This  is  quite  common  both  on  dry  and  wet  soils,  with  stems 
one  or  two  feet  long,  often  prostrate ;  frequently  two  or  more 
peduncles  rise  from  the  upper  sheath,  each  bearing  often  but  one 
spike  ;  leaves  flat,  one  to  three  fourths  of  an  inch  wide,  Vavy, 
fringed  on  the  edges  and  with  the  sheaths  hairy  all  over. 

5.  P.  DISTICHUM,  Joint  Grass,  Twin   Paspalum. 

One  name  is  from  the  flower  stems  bearing  usually  a  pair  of 
spikes,  (which  are  one  to  one  and  a  half  inches  long,)  the  other 
from  its  many-jointed  diffuse  stems  creeping  along  the  ground 
inserting  roots  at  every  joint.  The  flower  bearing  part  of  thex 
stem  rises  about  a  foot  high.  This  species  grows  as  well  where 
partly  submerged  as  otherwise. 

6.  P.  DIGITARIA,  Finger   Shaped    Paspalum,  has   creeping, 
branching  stem,  finally  rising  a  foot  or  two  high ;    often  having 
several  elongated  peduncles  from  the  upper  sheath,  bearing  fil- 
iform, horizontally  spreading  spikes  three  or  four  inches  long  ; 
sheaths  compressed  and  leaves  mostly  fringed  on  the  margins. 
This  is  found  in  open  swamps. 

7.  P.  VAGINATUM,  Sheathed  Paspalum,  is  found  in  brackish 
swamps.     The  short  jointed  stems  are  diffuse,   creeping,  two   to 
four  feet  long ;   the  flowering  branches  erect,  five  to  ten  inches 
high  ;  the  dilated  sheaths  persistent. 


88  I<  AHMEK'S   BOOK  OF 

8.  P.  WALTERI,  Walters  Paspalum,  is    found  in  cultivates 
lands,  prostrate,  creeping,  one  to  three  feet  long ;  spikes  three  tc 
seven,  the  lowest  included  in  the  upper  sheath.     All  the  prece- 
ding are  perennial.     The  next  two  are  annuals. 

9.  P.  FLUITANS,  Floating  Paspalum. 

This  is  found  in  swamps;  culm  one  to  three  feet  long,  wit! 
creeping  or  floating  base,  from  which  it  ascends  and  branches 
bearing  numerous  racemed  spikes. 

10.  P.  UNDULATUM,  Purple  Paspalum,  grows  on  rich  culti- 
vated grounds  one  to  three    feet  high,    bearing  two  to  twelve 
spreading  spikes  two  or  three   inches  long;    the  small  spikelcti 
crowded  in  three  or  four  rows  under  the  flat  rachis;  the  usually 
deep  green  leaves  and  sheaths  often  become  purple. 

Two  other  species  are  found  '  in  Florida.  For  cultivation 
the  following  are  specially  desirable :  P.  Iceve,  P.  undulatum  an< 
P.  ciliatifolium  for  dry  uplands,  slants  and  moist  or  dry  bottoms 
P.  prcecox  flourishes  in  the  same  conditions,  better  perhaps  wit! 
more  water;  and  P.  racemulomm  in  dry,  sandy  soil,  but  wil 
succeed  well  on  better,  moister  land.  They  come  in  bloom  ir 
the  following  order  from  May  to  September  ;  P.  pracox,  ciliati- 
folium,  Iceve,  racemulosum,  undulatum;  and  they  continue  to  bloon: 
from  two  to  four  months  each,  making  a  fine  succession  foi 
pasture  ;  for  which  I  would  sow  a  mixture  of  all  these. 

There  would  be  no  objection  to  sowing  several  of  them,  01 
even  all  for  mowing  and  the  mowing  should  be  repeated  ai 
proper  intervals,  allowing  some  seeds  to  mature  before  each 
mowing  to  ensure  a  full  setting  next  year,  although  all  these 
have  perennial  roots. 

The  stubble  may  be  plowed  under  in  the  fall  or  in  the  spring 
or  replowed  and  harrowed  in  the  spring;  the  latter  plan  perhaps 
insuring  a  better  crop  than  leaving  the  land  unbroken  from 
year  to  year. 

!li-    •  •'.-•     '  I      ffl'V     ;     ,'-•       !  r  >  .,'!!?..<  it,     ,;/  • 

PANICUM. 

1.  P.  SANGUINALE,  Crab  Grass. 

Every  planter  is  familiar  with  this  widely  disseminated,  nat- 
uralized foreigner,  which  has  won  many  a  hard  contest  against 
man  and  beast  with  plow  and  hoe,  forcing  the  man  with  wearied 
brain  and  exhausted  muscle  to  gain  his  bread  in  the  sweat  of 
his  face — with  many  a  Thomsonian  sweat  forsooth  from  top  to 
toe.  Yet  I  have  seen  a  crop  (many  of  them,)  of  this  grass  har- 
vested worth  more  than  the  corn  that  could  be  produced  on  the 
same  ground.  I  have  seen  corn  fields  and  cotton  fields  of  a  wet 
season  so  overrun  with  this  grass  that  in  May,  June,  July  or 
August,  ten  days'  work  with  mowers  and  horse-rakes  would  se- 
cure in  choice  hay  two  to  ten  fold  more  value,  than  many 
months7  labor  with  teams  and  machinery  and  heavy  expenses 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          89 

could  obtain  from  the  cotton  or  corn.  Mowing  among  corn 
ridges  is  indeed  rough  work.  But  I  have  seen  a  mower  that 
worked  admirably  and  cut  the  grass  all  perfectly  by  running 
across  the  ridges.  It  is  impossible  with  any  mower  to  do  satis- 
factory work  running  with  the  rows. 

When  the  corn  crop  is  good  and  early  matured  and  the  grass 
late,  the  former  may  be  harvested ;  and  the  mower  may  then  be 
used  as  above,  cutting  stalks  and  grass ;  or  if  desirable  the  stalks 
may  be  first  cut  with  hoes  and  removed.  When  I  had  no  mow- 
ers, I  found  the  grass  scythe  a  valuable  implement  for  cutting 
this  grass.  Cutting  with  the  hoe  and  pulling  by  hand,  as  many 
do,  gather  too  much  dftt  with  the  hay.  This  grass  makes  an 
excellent  hay  of  which  live  stock  are  very  fond,  preferring  it  to 
the  best  northern  hays.  Mr.  Collier's  analysis  gives,  for  crab 
grass : 

Oil,  2.87         Amylaceous  cellulose,      24.29 

Wax,  .02         Alkali  extract,  3.87 

Sugars,  9.88         Albuminoids,  9.99 

Gum  and  dextrin,  5.60         Ash,  10.68 

Cellulose,  32.80 

100.00 

FOR    ASH. 

Potassium,  6.67  Phosphoric  acid,                6.40 

Potassium  oxide,  33.56  Silicic  acid,                      30.93 

Calcium  oxide.  4.40  Chlorine,                             6.04 

Magnesium  oxide,  7.98 

Sulphuric  acid,  4.02  100.00 

This  grass  varies  much  in  size  and  other  respects  according 
to  soil  and  season.  Stems  have  been  measured  seven  feet  long; 
but  it  is  usually  two  to  four  feet,  and  may  yield  one  to  two  tons 
of  sweet  delicious  hay  per  acre.  It  should  be  cut  as  soon  as  in 
bloom ;  and  often  two  mowings  may  be  made  in  a  season. 

Any  good  piece  of  ground  that  has  had  this  grass  matured  on 
it  the  preceding  year  may  be  plowed  and  harrowed  smoothly 
and  then  rolled  in  May ;  and  it  will  soon  be  covered  with  a  rich 
growth.  If  the  season  favor,  two  mowings  should  be  made. 
For  a  number  of  years  I  pursued  another  plan  also  with  much 
satisfaction.  A  piece  of  land  that  had  matured  plenty  of  crab 
grass  seed  was  prepared  and  in  the  fall  sowed  with  spotted  me-  . 
dick  (sometimes  called  yellow,  burr,  or  California  clover)  for 
winter  and  spring  pasture,  without  any  thought  of  the  grass. 
As  usual,  the  medick  having  matured  seed,  died  in  May.  Im- 
mediately crab  grass  came  up  very  thick.  This  mowed  in  July 
and  August  and  again  in  October.  This  process  was  repeated 
for  a  number  of  years  without  reseeding,  or  any  other  work  than 
mowing  the  grass.  The  second  cutting  yielded  not  over  half  as 


90  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

much  hay  as  the  earlier  one,  but  it  was  of  the  choicest  quality. 
The  medick  seemed  to  replace  the  elements  removed  by  the  hay 
crop,  the  last  year  yielding  as  much  hay  as  any  preceding.  The 
medick  was  never  mowed,  but  grazed  from  December  till  April ; 
after  which  it  covered  the  ground  very  densely>  maturing  seed 
promptly,  which  after  removing  the  hay  in  the  fall  sprang  up 
for  winter  pasture.  This  process  was  continued  till  the  land 
was  required  for  another  purpose.  See  pages  3  and  4  for  a  fuller 
account. 

Crab  grass  is  excellent  for  summer  pasture  also;  and  with 
many  bad  managers  it  comes  as  a  God-spnd  to  eke  out  a  short 
corn  supply  for  work  animals,  saving  their  lives  from  May  to 
August  and  thus  saving  the  growing  crop. 

2.  P.  VIRGATTJM,  Tall  smooth  Panic  grass. 

This  is  called  also  switch  grass;  and  in  August  and  Septem- 
ber the  stem  attains  a  height  of  two  to  seven  feet,  being  crowned 
with  a  large,  diffuse,  open  panicle.  On  sandy,  moist  soil  it 
thrives  well,  yields  considerable  forage  and  is  nutritious  if  cut 
young.  A  number  of  stems  rise  from  each  clump.  Its  proxi- 
mate principles  vary  considerably  in  different  localities  as  is 
manifest  from  the  following  analyses  made  by  Mr.  Collier  of 
samples  from  Texas  and  Alabama : 

Texas.  Alabama. 

Oil,  1.25  1.75 

Wax,  .45  .17 

Sugars,  7.05  9.61 

Gum  and  dextrin,  3.37  3.02 

Cellulose,  37.38  28.87 

Amylaceous  cellulose  27.59  25.94 

Alkali  extract,  13.06  22.50 

Albuminoids,  5.01  4.58 

Ash,  4.84  3.56 


100.00  100.00 

ASH  ANALYSIS. 

Potassium,                                          3.36  1.54 

Potassium  oxide,                              18.76  22.53 

Sodium,                                               1.22  1.74 

Calcium  oxide,                                   7.87  7.39 

Magnesium  oxide,                             3.63  7.98 

Sulphuric  acid,                                  3.56  5.29 

Phosphoric  acid,                               5.50  4.37 

Silicic  acid,                                      51.17  45.10 

Chlorine,                                            4.93  4.06 


100.00  100.00 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          91 

This  grass  is  valuable  on  the  soil  mentioned  above  and  is  per- 
ennial. 

3.  P.  FILIFORME,  Slender  Crab  Grass. 

This  plant  grows  well  on  dry  sandy  soil,  is  about  two  feet 
high,  very  slender,  has  little  foliage  and  is  consequently  of  no 
great  agricultural  value  although  very  common.  Still  Mr.  Col- 
lier's analysis  is  appended  : 

Oil,                                        1.29         Amylaceous  cellulose,  29.96 

Wax,                                       .25         Alkali  extract,  23.19 

Sugars,                                   5.89         Albuminoids,  3.32 

Gum  ahd  dextrin,               4.67         Ash,  4.65 
Cellulose,                            26.78     . 

100.00 
ASH. 

Potassium,  13.41  Phosphoric  acid,              6.37 

Potassium  oxide,  12.98  Silicic  acid,                      40.36 

Calcium  oxide,  4.69  Chlorine,                          12.17 

Magnesium  oxide,  5.18 

Sulphuric  acid,  4.84  100.00 

4.  P.  ANCEPS,  Double-headed,  Variable  Panic  Grass. 

This  perennial  is  very  common  on  tenacious,  damp,  sterile 
soils,  the  flat  stems  rising  from  one  to  four  feet  high ;  the  radi- 
cal leaves  abundant,  soon  tough,  eaten  by  cattle  and  horses,  but 
not  when  they  can  get  better,  tenderer  forage.  It  forms  strong- 
ly rooted,  spreading  clumps,  often  completely  carpeting  the 
ground  with  very  pretty,  glossy,  light  green,  assurgent  foliage. 

5.  P.  AMARUM,  Bitter  Panic  Grass. 

This  perennial  is  very  common  on  sandy  lands,  and  especially 
about  streams.  It  is  too  bitter  and  otherwise  unpleasant  to  be 
relished  by  cattle  and  is  eaten  by  them  only  when  they  can  do 
no  better. 

6.  P.  CAPILLARE,  Hair-stalked  panic,  or  Old  Witch  Grass. 
This  annual  grows  preferably  on  sandy  lands,  but  is  found  in 

old  fields  and  poor  cultivated  lands  all  over  the  United  States. 
The  culms  rise  one  or  two  feet  high,  bearing  a  few  scattered 
seed  on  capillary  wide  spreading  branches.  The  stems  are  frag- 
ile when  dry,  and  the  panicles  are  often  seen  floating  high  up 
in  the  air,  landing  in  trees,  houses,  streams,  ponds  etc.  Often 
the  wind  breaking  them  off  where  a  field  is  covered  with  them, 
rolls  them  along  and  piles  up  against  fences  and  hedges  to  a 
height  of  several  feet ;  and  sometimes  they  fill  up  gullies  and 
cuts  in  roads.  But  the  branches  although  so  slender  are  rigid 
and  rough,  so  that  they  pack  so  loosely  that  one  might  pass 
through  a  pile  of  them  at  night  almost  without  being  aware  of 


92  K  Alt  Al  .Eli'S     BOOK  OF    GRASSES 

its  presence.     This  grass,  especially  the  hairy  varieties  is  utter- 
ly useless  for  cattle. 

7.  P.  DIVERGENS,  Autumn  Pan ie  grass. 

This  perennial  is  very  common  on  dry  sandy  lands  and  old 
fields,,  growing  about  a  foot  high.  Cattle  eat  it  when  they  can 
find  nothing  better ;  but  it  is  worth  little. 

8.  P.  VERUCCOSUM,  Warty  Panic  Grass. 

This  perennial  is  found  in  swamps.  The  culms  are  from  two 
to  four  feet  long,  very  slender,  smooth  and  branched.  The 
glumes  are  rough  with  minute  warts.  This  grass  is  worth 
little. 

9.  P.  LATIFOLIUM,  Broad-leaved  Panic  Grass. 

This  perennial  grows  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  high  in  moist 
or  dry,  rich  wooded  lands;  with  leaves  an  inch  or  more  wide 
and  three  or  four  inches  long.  It  bears  repeated  grazing  from 
May  onward  and  cattle  relish  it.  But  it  grows  too  scattering 
to  be  profitable  in  cultivation. 

10.  P.  CLANDESTINUM,  Hidden-flowered  Panic  Grass. 
This  valuable  perennial  is  similar  to,    and  grows  intermixed 

with  the  last.  It  is  later  and  the  stems  one  to  three  feet  high, 
very  leafy  and  with  axillary  branches;  the  panicles  lateral  and 
terminal,  small  and  more  or  less  hidden  in  the  sheaths;  the 
leaves  one  inch  or  more  wide  and  three  to  six  inches  long. 

11.  P.  PANCIFLORUM,  Few-flowered  Panic  Grass. 

This  grass  grows  one  or  two  feet  high  in  swamps  and  bogs 
and  is  of  little  value. 

12.  P.  VISCIDUM,  Sticky  Panic  Grass. 

This  soft,  densely  velvety,  downy  grass  grows  one  to  four 
lect  high  in  wet  swamps  and  bogs ;  stems  very  leafy  and  much 
branched,  varies  very  much.  It  is  of  little  value. 

14.  P.  DICHOTOMUM,  Polymorphous  Panic  Grass. 

This  perennial  growing  in  swamps,  woods,  fields,  every  sort 
of  place  from  a  half  foot  to  three  feet  high  is  very  variable  in 
stems,  panicles,  branches,  leaves,  down,  hairs  etc.  Stock  eat  it; 
but  it  is  not  very  valuable. 

14.  P.  GLABRUM,  Smooth  Panic  Grass. 

This  is  common  in  pastures  and  .along  road-sides,  resembles 
P.  sanguinale  in  general  appearance,  but  is  smaller  and  not 
hairy,  nor  so  much  relished  by  cattle. 

15o  P.  OBTUSUM,  Obtuse  flowered  Panic  Grass. 

This  grass,  found  in  Texas,  New  Mexico  aud  South  Amer- 
ica, is  described  as  "similar  in  appearance  to  the  P.  Texanum, 
but  lower  and  less  vigorous  in  growth,  with  narrower  panicles, 
and  narrower,  smoother  leaves/'  Ag.  Dept.,  II.  1878.  Mr. 
Collier's  analysis  annexed  shows  its  nutritive  value  about  equal 
to  that  of  Texas  millet. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          93 

Oil,  1.77         Amylaceous  cellulose,     24.21 

Wax,  .50         Alkali  extract,  8.75 

Sugars,  9.68         Albuminoids,  7.28 

Gum  and  dextrin,  5.74         Ash,  8.75 

Cellulose,  33.32  

100.00 

ASH. 

Potassium,  4.62         Phosphoric  acid,  5.18 

Potassium  oxide,  21.65         Silicic  acid,  48.60 

Calcium  oxide,  5.91         Chlorine,  4.20 

Magnesium  oxide,  3.13  ..  ...  ^ 

Sulphuric  acid.  6.71  100.00 

16.  P.  PROLIFERTJM,    Prolific,    or  Sprouting  Crab  Grass,    in 
favorable,   moist  situations,  with  many    creepir  ^sterns  rooting 
at  the  joints,  throws  up  a  large  number  of  thick;  "succulent,  ten- 
der, sweet,  geniculate,  much  branched  stems  from  three  to  sev- 
en   feet  high,  with  lateral  and  terminal,  diffuse   panicles.     The 
broad  leases  and  panicles  vary  in  length  from  six  inches  to  two 
feet.     It  grows  vigorously  from  mid-summer  till  frost;   admit- 
ting several  mowings  and  yielding  a  large  quantity  of  excellent, 
but  somewhat  coarse  hay,  requiring,  as  alLsucculent  large  plants, 
care  and  time  to  cure  well.     Horses  and  cattle  eat  it  ravenously 
at  all   times,    green  or    dry.     I    esteem  it  as  a   very   valuable 
grass  and  worthy  of  much    attention.     Although  naturally  pre- 
ferring river  and  creek  bottoms  and  even  brackish  marshes,  yet  it 
grows  luxuriantly  on  hill  sides  and  tops,   and  late  in  the  fall  in 
moist  cultivated  fields.     Where   cattle  have  free   access  to  it  at 
all  times,  they  keep  it  eaten  so  closely  as  not  to  allow  seeds   to 
mature.     It  should  not  only  be  protected,  but  cultivated  as  more 
valuable    and    much  more   promising  than  many    other  forage 
plants  of  inferior  worth  now  receiving  great  attention  and   care. 
It  delights  in  and  needs  rich  land,  as  do  all  very  valuable  for- 
age grasses. 

17.  P.  TEXANUM,  Texas  Panic  Grass   is   perhaps  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  the  many  species   of  Panicum.     In  habit  it   is 
much  like  crab  grass,  more  branched,  with   more  abundant  and 
broader  leaves — the  latter  |-   to    1  inch  wide  and  six  to  eight 
inches   long.     The  whole  plant  is  tender,  nutritious  and  highly 
relished  in  both  green  and  dry  state  by  live  stock.     Its  growth 
is  luxuriant  and  rapid,  the  stems  attaining  a   length  of  three  to 
five  feet  and  the  yield  of  forage  is  very  large.     The  analysis 
made  by  Mr.  Collier  as  published  in  the    Agricultural  Depart- 
ment Report  for  1878  is  as  follows  : 

Oil,  1.98         Amylaceous  cellulose,     20.64 

Wax,  .56         Alkali  extract,  18.43 

Sugars,  12.49         Albuminoids,  5.61 

Gum  and  dextrin,  5.98         Ash,  6.63 

Cellulose,  27.68 

1DOJOO 


94  FAKMEK'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

\ 

Potassium,  4.54         Sulphuric  acid,  4.63 

Potassium  oxide,  27.95         Phosphoric  acid,  •   8.48 

Sodium,  1.58         Silicic  acid,  34.31 

Calcium  oxide,  7.39         Chlorine,  6.55 

Magnesium  oxide,  4.57  

100.00 

In  the  same  report,  Mr.  Pryor  Lea  of  Goliad,  Texas,  is  quoted: 
"I  consider  it  far  superior  to  any  grass  that  I  ever  saw  for  hay. 
It  is  a  much  more  certain  crop  than  millet,  and  cultivated  with 
less  labor,  and  all  kinds  of  stock  prefer  it.  I  expect  to  report 
a  good  second  crop  on  the  same  ground  this  year.  In  this  re- 
gion this  gras^'j  in  the  condition  of  well-cultured  hay,  is  regard- 
ed as  more  nutritious  than  any  other  grass.  It  grows  only  in 
cultivated  land ;  it  prospers  best  in  the  warmest  fourth  of  the 
year;  its  luxurious  growth  subdues  other  grasses  and  some  weeds, 
with  the  result  of  leaving  the  ground  in  an  ameliorated  condi- 
tion." 

The  experiments  of  the  present  writer  and  others  in  Missis- 
sippi confirm  the  above  statements  substantially  of  Mr.  Lea,  ex- 
cept* that  it  is  subdued  by  some  other  grasses.  Our  hardy  crab 
grass  (Panicum  sanguinale)  especially  resists  successfully  the 
permanent  establishment  of  its  Texan  relative.  Where  the 
seeds  are  sown  on  well  prepared  ground  free  from  other  grass 
seeds,  the  plant  comes  well  up  to  Mr.  Lea's  statement.  But  we, 
with  others,  have  had  to  abandon  it,  reluctantly  it  is  true,  where 
other  grasses  overpower  it,  in  districts  noted  for  fine  forage  in 
great  variety  and  perfection  of  growth.  In  some  of  our  prairie 
country,  however,  and  some  other  portions  free  from  other  gras- 
ses, it  must  be  a  very  valuable  crop. 

Since  the  foregoing  was  written,  I  find  that  Prof.  S.  B.  Buck- 
ley first  published  a  description  of  this  grass  in  his  Preliminary 
Report  of  the  Geographical  and  Agricultural  Survey  of  Texas 
in  1866.  I  think  this  grass  so  important  that  I  quote  his  de- 
scription :  "Culms  erect  or  subdecumbent,  terete,  smooth ; 
sheaths  shorter  than  the  internodes,  subpubescent,  and  at  their 
mouths  hairy  ;  upper  portion  of  the  internodes  and  joints  pubes- 
cent ;  leaves  six  to  ten  inches  long  and  eight  to  ten  lines  broad, 
long  acuminate,  under  surface  subpubescent;  panicle  compress- 
ed, five  to  eight  inches  long  and  five  to  seven  Cinches  broad; 
rays  alternate,  erect,  lower  glume  ovate,  acute,  one-half  shorter 
than  the  floret,  five  nerved ;  upper  one  seven  nerved,  acute,  hy- 
aline, between  the  nerves  subpubescent,  longer  than  and  cover- 
ing the  floret.  Several  stems  often  grow  from  the  same  root, 
steins  sparingly  branched,  seed  numerous  and  aggregated. 

"Common  in  the  vjcinitv  of  Austin,  Texas,  where  it  is  often 
cut  for  hay,  for  which  it  is  highly  esteemed,  because  it  is  relish- 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS*         95 

ed  and  eaten  eagerly  by  both  horses  and  cattle.  It  grows  thick 
and  very  rapidly,  one  or  two  months  being  sufficient  to  bring  it 
to  maturity  enough  for  hay.  It  should  be  cut  before  the  seed  is 
fully  ripe.  It  is  said  that  it  will  yield  sometimes  two  tons  to 
the  acre.  Here  it  is  generally  permitted  to  grow  in  the  corn 
fields,  where  it  springs  up  in  June  after  the  corn  is  laid  by.  It 
is  of  sufficient  maturity  to  be  cut  from  the  middle  to  the  last  of 
August.  The  corn  is  often  gathered,  the  stalks  pulled,  and 
then  the  grass  is  cut  with  a  machine.  It  thrives  best  on  the 
Colorado  bottom  lands,  yet  I  have  seen  it  growing  on  poor  up- 
land soil,  but  it  was  dwarfed  at  least  one-hal£ 

"It  spreads  very  rapidly.  Those  who  have  a  suitable  soil 
can  easily  propagate  it  by  scattering  a  few  of  its  seeds  in  a  corn 
field.  It  is  an  annual,  hence  I  do  not  think  it  will  be  hard  for 
those  to  eradicate  who  do  not  wish  to  continue  its  cultivation.77 

This  is  no  doubt  the  same  grass  mentioned  in  the  Tallahassee 
Floridian  as  quoted  in  the  Southern  Cultivator  for  1879  page 
415,  thus:  "We  have  been  shown  a  specimen  of  the  Concho 
grass,  grown  by  R.  C.  Long,  Esq.,  of  this  place,  from  seed 
brought  by  him  from  Texas,  which  certainly  comes  nearer  offer- 
ing* all  the  desired  qualities  of  pasture  and  forage  plants  than 
any  we  have  ever  seen.77  He  adds  that  on  the  Colorado  bot- 
toms, many  of  the  farmers  "have  devoted  their  farms  entirely  to 
its  production,  finding  it  more  profitable  than  corn  or  cotton.  *  * 
*  We  understand  that  in  Texas,  this  grass  is  cut  twice,  and  some- 
times three  times  a  year,  yielding  about  oine  and  a  half  tons  per 
acre  at  a  cutting.  The  stubble  is  very  heavy,  and  improves  land 
almost  equally  with  clover." 

Further  experience  will  no  doubt  show  that  the  last  statement 
is  erroneous ;  and  this  will  the  sooner  appear  on  hill  or  other 
lands  not  subject  to  overflow. 

18.  P.  AGROSTIS,  Agrostis-like  Panic   Grass,  Munro    Grass. 

For  a  few  years  this  grass  has  been  experimented  with  by  a 
number  of  planters  in  most  of  the  southern  States.  Never  hav- 
ing grown  it,  I  give  from  the  Southern  Cultivator  for  1879, 
pages  425,  426,  Mr.  Geo.  C.  W.  Munro7s  account  of  it. 

"The  grass  I  discovered  in  1875,  has  been  experimented  with 
more  than  ever  before ;  and  from  every  State  I  receive  favora- 
ble reports  of  it.  G.  W.  Brown,  Mineola,  Texas,  writes,  Sep- 
tember 1st.,  that  it  is  seven  feet  high,  still  growing  luxuriantly. 
— W.  F.  Rowell,  Lodi,  Miss.,  writes,  September  16th.,  that  all 
the  seed  I  sent  him  germinated,  and  grew  oft  finely,  but  that  it 
was  so  late  he  feared  he  would  not  be  able  to  save  seed,  as  they 
had  just  begun  to  make  their  appearance.  His  grass  was  six 
feet  high.  Himself  and  neighbors  were  well  pleased  with  it. — 


96  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF 

Dr.  J.  H.  Watkins,  Palmetto^  Ga.,  writes  that  it  is  four  feet 
high,  and  began  seeding  September  12,  had  stood  a  five  weeks' 
drought  without  wilting,  while  crab  grass  and  corn  were  badly 
parched  up 

"In  order  that  the  public  may  have  all  the  benefit  of  my  ex- 
perience with  this  grass,  I  have  concluded  to  tell  what  I  know 
about  it  in  your  columns.  I  have,  this  year,  set  one  and  one- 
half  acres  in  the  plants  on  land  badly  worn  and  cleared  about 
seventy-five  years ;  but  a  portion  of  it  has  been  used  as  a  cow- 
pen,  and  planted  in  potatoes,  sugar  cane,  wheat,  oats  and,  last 
year,  in  cotton,  producing  at  the  rate  of  one-half  bale  per  acre. 
This  year  it  was  broken  deeply,  and  manured  with  compost  of 
cotton  [seed?]  and  stable  manure,  two  pounds  each  to  one  of 
Merry  man's  ammoniated  guano,  at  the  rate  of  1,000  Ibs.  per 
acre,  put  in  the  drill  and  bedded  on  with  long  narrow  scooter 
plough,  run  very  deep,  rows  nearly  three  feet  apart.  The 
plants  were  set  about  eighteen  inches  apart,  about  the  first  of 
April;  received  two  plo wings  and  two  hoeings;  was  cut  18th. 
July.  One  row  thoroughly  dried  and  weighed  by  several  of 
my  neighbors  and  land  measured ;  yield  ascertained  in  that  way 
15,842  Ibs.  per  acre.  The  test  row  was  under  an  average,  if  any 
thing.  Although  there  had  been  no  rain  since  July  29th.,  the 
grass  began  putting  out  and,  in  four  weeks,  it  was  about  four 
feet  high,  and  should  have  been  cut  again  in  five  weeks,  but  I 
let  it  stand  eight ;  and  although  I  made  good  hay  I  had  much 
trouble  with  it,  as  the  weather  was  cloudy  and  occasionally  a 
light  shower. 

"Yield  the  last  cutting  7,928  Ibs  using  two  rows  instead  of 
one  as  test  rows.  One  was  the  row  used  in  first  cutting.  It 
had  several  pounds  less  than  the  other,  and  the  other  was  far 
inferior  to  some — both  upon  the  whole  about  an  average.  To- 
tal yield  per  acre,  23,870  Ibs.  I  should  have  broadcasted  the 
manure  instead  of  putting  it  in  the  drill.  I  should  have  had 
the  rows  2  feet  apart  instead  of  3,  and  the  plants  12  instead  ot 
18  inches.  It  ^should  have  been  cut  at  least  10  days  or  two 
weeks  earlier  the  first  time  and  3  weeks  earlier  the  second.  I 
would,  m  the  same  space  of  time  that  I  got  two  cuttings,  have 
gotten  three,  and  fourth  full  of  seed  1st.  of  November,  the  yield 
of  hay  would  have  been  greater,  the  quality  better,  and  the 
time  required  in  curing  lessened.  For  grazing  purposes  for 
cows,  and  work  oxen  I  do  not  think  it  has  an  equal  at  the  sea- 
son of  year  it  is  on  hand.  Cattle  are  more  fond  of  it  than  any 
other  grass — so  are  hogs.  Horses  and  mules  prefer  crab  grass, 
but  will  eat  the  other  when  they  can  not  get  the  crab.  A  patch 
can  be  continued  indefinitely,  by  taking  stock  off  in  time  for  it 
to  ripen  its  seeds. 

"The  seed  should  be  planted  in  our  latitude  in  January,  and 
if  set  out,  it  should  be  done  as  soon  as  the  plants  get  3  or  4  inch- 
es high. 


AND  OTHEE  FOEAGE  PLANTS.         97 

"To  sum  up,  the  grass  is  an  anntial — begins  to  seed  in  Sep- 
tember. Can  be  cut  and  fed  green  or  cured  for  hay.  Stock  are 
as  fond  of  the  hay  as  they  are  of  corn  fodder.  It  can  be  used 
for  grazing,  soiling,  or  any  other  way  that  any  other  grass  can. 
It  begins  to  come  up  in  latitude  32J°  about  the  1st.  of  March, 
or  a  few  days  earlier  if  weather  is  moderate.  Makes  fine  feed 
for  cattle  and  horses,  stands  drought  well,  and  has  made  with  a 
3  weeks'  drought  in  May  and  5  weeks7  drought  in  July  and  Au- 
gust, nearly  12  tons  of  well  cured  hay.  Seed  are  difficult  to 
save,  but  the  grass  will  seed  the  land  wherever  it  grows,  as  crab 
grass  does.  It  requires  very  rich  land  and  abhors  the  shade." 
In  August,  1880,  I  received  from  Mr.  Munro,  a  letter  fully 
reaffirming  the  above  statements.  He  now  says  that  horses  pre- 
fer the  hay  to  corn  fodder.  On  rich  land  it  will  bear  cutting 
four  or  five  times  for  soiling  if  weather  favors,  or  three  times 
for  hay.  He  thinks  he  can  produce  30,000  pounds  of  hay  per 
acre  by  heavy  manuring.  He  sows  the  seed  in  January  or  Feb- 
ruary on  a  rich  garden  bed  and  transplants  when  the  plants  are 
four' inches  high,  the  ground  being  sufficiently  moist.  He  dis- 
covered a  single  bunch  of  this  grass  in  his  garden  in  1875,  and 
started  with  the  seed  saved  from  it. 

A  letter  received^at  the  same  time  from  Mr.  Rowell  confirms 
the  statements  of  Mr.  Munro.  He  uhad  last  year  nine  rows  for- 
ty steps  long,  which  was  cut  the  last  of  July,  cured  three  days, 
and  made  two  wagon  loads,  all  that  a  good  yoke  of  oxen  could 
pull,  at  least  3,000  pounds.  It  will  seed  as  soon  with  as  with- 
out cutting." 

This  is  not  a  new  grass.  It  grows  naturally  on  wet  lands, 
two  or  three  feet  high  ;  but  in  cultivation  grows  much  larger 
on  rich  land  suited  to  corn.  The  stems  are  flattened,  erect ; 
leaves  long  with  smooth  sheaths ;  the  purplish  spikelets  crowded, 
one-sided,  on  the  spreading  branches.  The  resemblance  of  red 
top  in  color  and  general  appearance  of  the  panicle  gives  the 
specific  name.  By  saving  sufficient  seed,  one  need  not  have 
the  trouble  of  transplanting ;  and  by  broadcasting,  no  doubt,  a 
better  hay  could  be  produced — not  so  coarse.  This  grass  is 
perennial  further  north ;  but  it  is  not  the  only  one  that  has 
changed  in  this  regard  in  lower  latitudes.  Nor  is  it  the  only 
one  that  has  shown  like  astonishing  development  under  cultiva- 
tion. 

19.  P.  CEUS-GALLI,  (Oplismenus  of  Beauvois,)  CockVfoot 
Grass.  This  grass  is  called  also  barn-yard  grass,  and  other 
names.  It  is  very  widely  distributed  in  Asia,  Europe  and  A- 
merica  and  varies  very  much  in  size,  in  leaves,  stems,  sheaths 
and  panicles,  even  in  localities  not  very  remote  one  from  anoth- 
er. It  is  found  perfect  in  all  its  characteristic  parts  in  speci- 
mens that  never  exceed  three  inches  in  height  as  well  as  those 
of  seven  feet.  The  spikes  range  from  a  few  lines  to  four  inches 


98 


FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  G 


in  length,  with  or  without  abundant  stiff  hairs ;  the  sheaths  may 
be  smooth  or  covered  with  hairs ;  and  the  palets  with  long  awns, 
or  with  none.  The  panicle  too  varies  much  in  color.  The 
plant  is  annual  with  many  stems,  arising  from  a  common  base, 
each  bearing  a  long  panicle  with  a  large  quantity  of  seed  which 
readily  fall  off  even  before  fully  matured.  It  luxuriates  in  rich, 
moist  soils. 

In  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  and  some  other  States  it  is  mowed 
annually.  Some  farmers  assure  me  that  they  harvest  four  or 
fi  ve  tons  of  hay  per  acre.  It  may  be  cut  twice  each  season  by 
making  the  first  mowing  as  soon  as  it  begins  to  bloom.  I  know 
no  one  who  plants  it;  but  it  annually  reseeds  the  ground  and 
requires  no  cultivation,  or  other  care,  save  protection  from  live 
stock  and  the  labor  of  harvesting. 

Being  a  coarse  grass,  with  long  leaves  and  large  succulent 
stems,  it  requires  care  to  cure  well.  In  one  county  in  Missis- 
sippi, hundreds  of  acres  are  annually  mowed  on  single  farms. 
Cows  and  horses  are  very  fond  of  it  whether  green  or  dry. 
Farmers  who  have  tested  it  most  thoroughly  for  many  years, 
prefer  it  to  the  best  corn-fodder.  I  have  been  assured  by  some 
that  on  substituting  this  hay  for  corn-fodder,  their  work  ani- 
mals immediately  show  decided  improvement  and  require  less 
corn.  To  make  the  best  hay,  it  must  be  cut  when  in  bloom. 
Cut  later  the  awns  and  woody  fibre  become  unpalatable  and 
less  digestible ;  and  much  of  the  nutritive  matter  is  lost  by  shat- 
tering off  the  seeds.  The  Ag.  Dept.  Report  for  1878  gives  Mr. 
Collier's  analysis  of  the  plant  and  ash. 


ANALYSIS   OF  PLANT. 


Oil, 

Wax, 

Sugars, 

Gum  and  dextrin, 

Cellulose, 


Potassium, 
Potassium  oxide, 
Sodium, 
Sodium  oxide, 
Calcium  oxide, 
Magnesium  oxide, 


1.54 

.57 

13.87 

5.07 

32.27 


Amylaceous  cellulose, 
Alkali  extracts, 
Albuminoids, 
Ash, 


21.37 

11.03 

4.14 

10.14 


ASH  ANALYSIS. 


Sulphuric  acid, 
Phosphoric  acid, 
Silicic  acid, 
Chlorine, 


100.00 


3.69 
4.27 

42.18 
11.48 

100.00 


Cultivation  and  well  prepared  land  would   greatly  improve 
this  grass. 

20.  P.  JUMENTOEUM,  Guinea  Grass. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          99 

The  name  Guinea  grass  has  often  been  applied  to  Johnson 
Grass,  (Sorghum  halapense)  which  see  on  a  subsequent  page. 
The  latter  matures  seed  in  the  United  States,  virile  the  former 
seldom  does  even  in  Florida.  The  Guinea  grass  therefore  must 
be  propagated  by  dividing  the  clumps  or  from  seed  imported 
from  tropical  climates,  usually  from  Jamaica.  The  tussocks 
may  be  divided  and  set  out  any  time  of  year  when  the  ground 
is  moist  enough  and  the  temperature  of  the  air  not  lower  than 
40°  F.  But  the  best  time  to  set  is  late  in  March  and  through 
April.  If  set  in  April  after  the  ground  becomes  warm,  the 
plants  are  up  in  a  few  days  and  by  the  last  of  May  ready  for 
the  first  mowing  ;  which  with  favorable  weather  may  be  repeat- 
ed about  every  six  weeks  till  frost  kills  it  down. 

The  roots  are  very  easily  killed  by  cold  and  must  be  protect- 
ed like  sugar  cane  roots  in  winter.  This  cannot  well  be  done 
by  throwing  earth  on,  unless  it  is  kept  like  sugar  cane  in  rows. 
On  hill  Ian  d  I  have  succeeded  best  in  preserving  sugar  cane 
ratoons  by  covering  with  the  cane  tops  and  fodder.  It  is  prob- 
able that  the  Guinea  grass  roots  might  be  protected  in  a  similar 
manner  by  taking  off  no  grass  later  than  August  and  then  mow- 
ing just  before  frost,  or  in  October  and  leaving  the  grass  as  it 
falls  on  the  ground.  It  is  too  tender  to  grow  at  any  great  dis- 
tance from  the  gulf  shore ;  but  by  protection  might  be  cultiva- 
ted successfully  in  the  southern  portion  of  all  the  gulf  States. 

The  subjoined  analysis  of  Mr.  Collier  shows  this  grass  to  be 
more  nutritious  than  many  others,  so  that  with  its  immense 
product  of  hay  it  is  very  valuable,  especially  near  the  sea  shore 
and  on  the  sandy  lands  where  other  good  grasses  do  not  thrive. 

ANALYSIS  OF  PANICUM  JUMENTORUM. 

Oil,  1.27         Amylaceous  cellulose,      16.30 

Wax,  .31         Alkali  extract,  22.60 

Sugars,  5.93         Albuminoids,  8.95 

Gum  and  dextrin,  4.51         Ash,  8.37 

Cellulose,  31.76 

100.00 

ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

* 

Potassium,  8.57  Phosphoric  acid,               4.37 

Potassium  oxide,  35.93  Silicic  acid,                     16.51 

Calcium  oxide,  10.18  Chlorine,           .                  7.77 

Magnesium  oxide,  14.16 

Sulphuric  acid,  2.51  100.00 

Although  this  grass  will  do  well  on  rather  poor  sandy  land, 
it  does  much  better  on  richer  or  fertilized  land.  Wherever  it 
has  had  proper  care  the  crop  is  enormous  and  satisfactory.  A 


100  I'AKMKK'H  BOOK  OF  Git  ASSES 

tropical  grass  originally  from  Africa,  it  is  now  grown  largely  in 
the  East  and  West  Indies.  In  Jamaica  it  is  held  next  to  su- 
gar in  value  of  crop,  a  single  farmer  producing  five  thousand 
dollars  worth  per  annum  of  the  hay.  Propagated  to  any  de- 
sired extent  by  rapid  increase  of  tillers  it  is  esteemed  in  Florida 
and  other  parts  of  the  south  as  a  first  class  forage  plant.  Cat- 
tle eat  it  with  avidity,  green  or  dry. 

Mr.  C.  Codrington,  a  former  resident  of  the  island  of  Jamai- 
ca, settled  some  ten  years  ago  in  Florida.  Finding  the  condi- 
tions adapted  to  the  growth  of  Guinea  grass,  he  ordered  seeds 
from  Jamaica  and  planted  in  1872.  Other  persons  also  in  oth- 
er States  had  obtained  seeds  and  roots  from  the  same  source  at 
various  times  for  fifty  years  previous  to  his  coming  to  Florida. 
But  the  earlier  plantings  had  finally  disappeared.  Others  since 
Mr.  C.  have  also  imported  seed.  Mr.  C.  says  he  never  saw 
working  mules  get  grain  of  any  kind  in  Jamaica;  and  if  offered 
to  them  they  refused  to  eat  it  although  hard  worked,  and  fed  on 
Guinea  grass  only. 

Mr.  James  Johnson  of  Mullet  Creek,  Florida,  received  seed 
from  Jamaica  and  says  :  "It  is  a  coarse  grass,  and  very  sweet. 
My  cattle  and  horses  feed  upon  it  with  great  avidity,  preferring 
it  to  all  and  every  other  grass,  and  it  certainly  makes  a  rich 
and  nutritious  pasture.  With  this  grass  I  believe  Florida,  with 
its  mild  and  pleasant  climate,  might  be  made  one  of  the  finest 
grazing  States  in  the  union."  Much  more  testimony  ot  the 
same  character  could  be  adduced.  This  grass  revolutionized 
farming^ in  Jamaica;  districts,  barren  and  not  susceptible  of 
cultivation  previous  to  the  accidental  introduction  of  this  grass, 
because  the  most  profitable  parts  of  the  island,  producing  as- 
tonishing numbers  of  fine  live  stock  for  home  use  and  for 
export. 

This  grass  need  cause  no  anxiety  in  regard  to  its  introduction. 
It  has  not  the  cane-like  roots  of  the  Johnson  grass  and  is  easily 
exterminated.  In  fact  it  requires  some  care  to  a^oid  losing  it 
outside  the  tropics,  as  the  experience  of  many  persons  has 
proved  in  our  southern  States.  Yet  it  is  worthy  of  trial  on  a 
large  scale  on  our  poorer  sandy  lands  in  the  southern  districts  of 
the  gulf  States.  It  tillers  so  rapidly  and  abundantly  that  each 
plant  may  be  separated  into  many  parts  a  number  of  times 
each  year — sometimes  a  single  root  will  supply  over  fifty  new 
plants  at  one  time. 

21.  P.  MILJ.ACEUM,     Common  Millet. 

This  is  the  'common  millet/  'cultivated  millet/  'millet  com- 
mun?  of  authors.  The  genus,  as  shown  under  the  head  The 
Millets,  has  been  cultivated  from  very  early  times,  (being  the 
dochan  of  Ezekiel,)  in  all  the  countries  from  Southern  India  to 
Central  Europe  :  and  later  in  Western  Europe.  It  was  brought 
from  India  .to  England  in  1596,  and  has  been  long  known  to  a 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE- Fi^TOsS'  '>>'' JX  J>/>\  \ ,  VlOl 

limited  extent  in  the  United  States.  There  are  several  varie- 
ties of  it,  founded  on  difference  of  color  of  the  panicle  or  seed. 
On  good  land,  it  attains  a  height  of  three  to  six  feet,  resembles 
dwarf  broom  corn,  produces  much  foliage  and  a  panicle  of  which 
the  branches  heavily  loaded  with  seed  all  incline  to  the  same 
side. 

For  feeding  stock  it  should  be  cut,  like  the  setaria,  when  in 
bloom.  It  is  then  tender,  digestible  and  very  nutritious,  and 
may  reach  seventy  bushels  per  acre  if  well  cultivated. 

In  order  to  show  something  of  German  industry,  methods 
and  careful^  culture,  we  make  a  few  extracts  from  the  celebra- 
ted Thaer's  great  work,  "Principles  of  Agriculture."  Though 
of  humble  birth,  his  fame  became  so  great  that  his  friendship 
was  sought  by  the  most  celebrated  agriculturists  of  England, 
France,  Denmark,  Germany ;  almost  all  the  great  sovereigns  of 
Europe  complimented  him  on  his  great  success;  those  of  Prus- 
sia, Russia,  Saxony,  Hanover,  Bavaria  and  Wurtemburg  sent 
him  their  orders  of  knighthood ;  and  noblemen  from  all  parts 
of  the  world  came  to  visit  him,  especially  from  England. 

He  writes :  "The  common  millet  is  preferred  as  having  the 
largest  grain  ;  and  the  German  millet  as  being  least  liable  to 
shed  its  grain,  as  ripening  more  quickly,  and  as  not  being  so 
much  robbed  by  birds.  The  cultivation  required  by  both  is  the 
same  or  nearly  so. 

"Millet  requires  a  warm,  rich,  sandy,  well  pulverized  soil.  It 
succeeds  better  when  sown  after  some  crop  which  has  been 
abundantly  manured  than  it  does  when  sown  after  an  amelior- 
ation of  undecomposed  manure. 

"A  soil  must  be  tilled  to  a  great  depth  for  its  reception,  and 
plowed  three  times,  besides  being  harrowed,  rolled  and  thor- 
oughly freed  from  weeds.  Many  farmers  dig  their  ground  to  a 
great  depth  previously  to  sowing  it  with  this  plant ;  but  a  good 
plowing  answers  the  purpose  equally  well.  Millet  is  in  gener- 
al very  successful  on  newly  drained  land,  provided  that  it  is  in 
good  condition,  and  also  land  which  has  been  left  in  repose  for 
several  years.  In  the  latter  case  a  single  plowing  is  sufficient, 
if  the  soil  is  subsequently  harrowed  and  well  broken  up  with  a 
roller  before  the  seed  is  put  into  it. 

"Millet  should  be  sown  in  May ;  about  three  metzen  of  seed 
is  the  quantity  usually  used  per  acre ;  a  harrow  then  is  lightly 
passed  over  the  soil,  and  where  the  ground  is  dry,  a  roller  also 
must  be  used.  The  seed  must  be  thoroughly  ripe,  perfect  and 
free  from  disease. 

"As  soon  as  weeds  make  their  appearance  among  the  millet 
which  is  just  shooting  above  ground,  they  must  be  eradicated 
by  weeding.  This  is  absolutely  necessary,  if  we  would  not  en- 
danger the  success  of  the  crop  ;  and  can  only  be  dispensed  with 
where  the  land  has  only  lately  been  drained  and  brought  into 


1.02  ;KARfcrlE&'s  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

cultivation,  and  consequently  has  few  or  no  indigenous  weeds. 
It  is  on  this  account  that  millet  can  seldom  be  cultivated  to 
any  great  extent.  One  weeding  is  rarely  sufficient  for  it ;  for, 
if  the  soil  is  at  all  disposed  to  produce  weeds,  it  will  require  a 
second,  if  not  a  third — each  one  following  about  a  fort-night  or 
three  weeks  after  the  other. 

"The  best  way  is  to  tear  up  the  weeds  with  hand  rakes  con- 
structed for  the  purpose ;  this  mode  of  proceeding  answers  far 
better  than  hand  weeding,  as  by  its  means  not  only  all  the  weeds 
may  be  eradicated,  but  the  supernumerary  plants  may  be  thin- 
ned off.  The  effect  of  this  cultivation  on  the  success  and  vege- 
tation of  the  crop  is  wonderful;  after  it  the  millet  shoots  up  so 
rapidly  that  the  weeds  seldom  have  time  to  grow  again,  or,  if 
they  do,  it  is  in  small  numbers,  and  they  may  easily  be  pulled 
up. 

"Great  attention  is  requisite  to  seize  on  the  exact  moment  at 
which  the  plant  attains  maturity,  especially  with  common  mil- 
let, which  ripens  very  unequally,  and  is  very  liable  to  shed  its 
seed.  This  evil  is,  however,  much  less  to  be  feared  where  the 
crop  has  been  cultivated,  and  thinned  in  the  way  we  have  men- 
tioned. Those  who  cultivate  millet  only  in  patches,  cut  off  the 
spikes  as  they  ripen,  and  carry  them  home  in  sacks;  but  as 
this  can  be  done  only  where  the  plant  is  cultivated  but  little, 
the  reaping  must  be  commenced  as  soon  as  the  greater  part  of 
the  plants  are  ripe,  and  performed  with  great  care  with  a  sickle. 

"This  plant  must  not  be  left  on  the  ground  in  swaths,  be- 
cause if  rain  comes  on,  and  it  gets  wetted,  it  sheds  its  grain.  It 
should,  on  the  contrary,  be  immediately  carried  to  the  barns 
and  there  threshed,  and  freed  fk>m  all  impurities  and  foreign 
substances  as  much  as  possible.  The  grain  should  then  be 
spread  in  very  thin  layers  over  the  floor  and  stirred  about  ev- 
ery day  with  a  rake  until  perfectly  dry,  otherwise  it  will  become 
heated  and  bitter.  The  straw  is  tied  up  even  though  moist, 
and  carried  into  the  air  to  be  dried ;  if  not  properly  dried  it 
will  become  mouldy  on  being  stacked.  This  straw  is  much  es- 
teemed as  provender  for  cattle. 

"Although  when  cultivated  to  any  great  extent  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  cut  ofl  the  ears  separately  as  they  ripen,  it  is  worth  while 
to  gather  all  those  is  this  manner  which  will  be  required  for 
seed.  Grain  which  ripens  thoroughly,  and  of  which  proper 
care  has  been  taken,  shoots  up  evenly,  and  produces  perfect 
plants,  free  from  disease,  and  especially  from  smut,  which  fre- 
quently manifests  itself  in  this  grain  where  proper  precautions 
have  not  been  taken.  The  portion  of  millet  which  is  intended 
for  seed  should  bejjpreserved  in  some  place  through  which  there 
is  a  free  circulation  of  air,  and  where  it  can  become  perfectly 
dry  ;  it  should  be  threshed  when  wanted.  The  best  way  of  free- 
ing millet  from  its  husk  is  by  making  use  of  mills  somewhat  re- 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  103 

sembling  fulling-mills,  which  beat  it  with  sticks  or  hammers. 

"Millet  is  well  known  to  be  a  very  nutritious  grain  ;  in  most 
countries  it  forms  an  article  of  rice.  Consequently  its  price 
generally  bears  a  relative  proportion  to  that  of  rice. 

" Millet  also  is  cultivated  as  fodder;  it  is  then  sown  more 
thickly,  and  mown  as  soon  as  its  panicles  are  developed."  Pp. 
428-9. 

The  three  'metzen'  are  equal  to  about  three  pecks,  and  contain 
about  the  quantity  of  seed  to  sow  per  acre.  This  common  mil- 
let may  be  sown  here  any  time  from  April  10th,  to  July,  perhaps 
later.  None  of  the  millets,  indeed  no  other  plants,  receive  so 
much  cultivation  in  this  country  as  in  Germany  or  Prussia. 
Thaer's  remarks  on  maturing  and  saving  and  preserving  seeds  are 
specially  valuable ;  cmd  if  generally  practiced,  we  should  have  better 
stands,  more  vigorous,  healthy  growth,  and  larger,  heavier,  sounder 
crops  of  all  kinds. 

Prof.  Flint  says  of  this  grass  :  "It  is  one  of  the  best  crops  we 
have  for  cutting  and  feeding  green  for  soiling  purposes,  since 
its  yield  is  large,  its  luxuriant  leaves  juicy  and  tender,  and 
much  relished  by  milch  cows  and  other  stock. 

"The  seed  is  rich  in  nutritive  qualities,  but  it  is  seldom  ground 
or  used  for  flour,  though  it  is  said  to  exceed  all  other  kinds  of 
meal  or  flour  in  nutritive  elements.  An  acre  well  cultivated 
will  yield  from  sixty  to  seventy  bushels  of  seed.  Cut  in  the 
blossom,  as  it  should  be,  for  feeding  to  cattle,  the  seed  is  com- 
paratively valueless.  If  allowed  to  ripen  its  seed,  the  stalk  is 
no  more  nutritious,  probably,  than  oat  straw. 

"Millet  requires  a  good  soil,  and  is  rather  an  exhausting  crop, 
but  yields  a  produce  valuable  in  proportion  to  the  richness  of 
the  soil,  and  care  and  expense  of  cultivation." 

The  seeds  weigk  forty  pounds  to  the  bushel. 

22.  P.  GIBBUM,  grows  in  low,  wet  lands. 

23.  P.  DIVARICATUM,  Small  Cane,  found  in  the  Gulf  States. 
Both  perennial  natives  and  perhaps  one  or   two  more  of  these 
Panic  grasses  possess  considerable   value ;   but  they  cannot  be 
cultivated  profitably  and  need  no  special  attention. 

THE  MILLETS. 

Having  made  a  caretul  study  of  this  subject,  in  1877,  in  the 
New  Orleans  Picayune,  I  published  an  account  of  many  of  the 
plants  that  have  received  this  name.  I  here  present  some  ex- 
tracts from  that  account  which  run  through  three  numbers  of 
the  Picayune. 

This  word  is  so  comprehensive,  is  applied  to  so  many  plants 
widely  differing  both  in  appearance  and  botanical  characters, 
there  is  so  much  confusion  in  the  use  of  the  word,  and  the  sub- 
ject is  so  important  that  it  will  be  proper,  and  even  necessary, 


104  FAKMEH'H  BOOK  OF 

to  enter  into  some  historical  investigation  and  details,  in  order, 
if  possible,  to  dissipate  the  confusion  and  relieve  the  subject  of 
its  embarrassments. 

Let  us  see,  first,  what  the  two  great  American  dictionaries 
say  :Webster  gives  " Millet,  [Fr.,  millet,  or  mil;  It.,  miglio; 
Sp.,  mijo;  L.,  milium;  Sax.,  mil].  1.  A  plant  or  the  grain  of 
a  plant,  of  the  genus  Holcus,  or  Sorghum,  having  a  stalk  re- 
sembling a  jointed  reed,  and  classed  by  botanists  among  the 
grasses.  Various  species  are  used  as  food  for  men  and  animals, 
but  the  Indian  millet  is  the  most  common.  The  species  arc 
mostly  natives' of  warm  climates. — P.  Cyc.  2.  Millet  grass,  or 
millet,  a  hardy  grass  of  the  genus  Milium,  of  several  species. — 
Farm  encyc. 

Worcester  tells  us,  Millet,  [L.  milium  ;  It.  miglio  ;  Fr.  mil, 
or  millet — A.  S.  mil,  millet].  (Bot.)  A  genus  of  tall  grasses, 
with  succulent  stems,  native  of  the  tropical  parts  of  Asia ;  Sor- 
ghum.— Eng.  Cyc. 

The  species  have  been  referred  to  Holcus,  sometimes  to  An- 
dropogon.  Sorghum  vulgare  is  the  largest  of  the  small  cereal 
grains,  and  may  be  considered  the  representative  of  the  Indian 
corn  of  America,  where  it  is  usually  called  Guinea  corn,  and  in 
some  works,  the  great  or  Indian  millet. — Eng.  Cyc. 

Millet  grass,  a  genus  of  grasses,  of  several  species ;  milium. — 
London. 

However  correct  these  definitions  may  be,  the  two  "unabrid- 
ged" dictionaries  and  the  four  encyclopedias  quoted  by  them 
certainly  aiford  little  mfprmation  touching  anything  known  as 
millet  in  our  southern  States.  A  number  of  other  dictionaries 
and  encyclopedias  are  equally  unsatisfactory.  As  no  one  will 
be  apt  to  mistake  the  milium,  or  millet  grass  of  the  last  sentence 
of  each  of  the  definitions,  for  what  we  call  millet,  it  may  be  ex- 
cluded from  further  notice  in  this  investigation. 

The  earliest  mention  of  millet  that  I  remember  is  found  in 
Ezekiel,  iv,  9,  in  the  year  595  B.  C.  In  the  Hebrew  it  is  do- 
khan  or  dochan  and  identical  with  the  Arabic  dukhun.  It  is 
rendered  in  the  Greek  of  the  LXX  kegchros,  Latinized  cen- 
chrus.  The  Latin  Vulgate  has  it  milium ;  Diodati's  Italian, 
miglio ;  MiguePs  Spanish,  mijo  ;  Luther's  German,  hirsen  ;  the 
French,  Paris  edition  180§,  millet. 

Modern  botanists  do  not  apply  the  names  cenchrus  and  mil- 
kb>m  to  the  same  plants  to  which  they  were  applied  in  the  above 
and  other  ancient  writers ;  so  that  the  common  reader  gains  but 
little  additional  knowledge  here. 

Pliny  (XVIII,  7,)  says :  " As  touching  the  millet,  the  head 
thereof  bearing  seed  roundabout,  is  bent  likewise  and  curbed, 
beset  also  with  fringes  (as  it  were)  of  hairy  fillets."  This  seems 
best  to  describe  what  for  centuries  has  been  known  in  Europe 
as  "common  millet"  (Panicuin  miliacenm),  mentioned  on  page 
100. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  105 

Herodotus  (Clio,  cxciii,)  speaking  of  "the  Babylonian  district/7 
400  years  B.  C.,  says  :  "The  immense  height  to  which  millet  and 
sesamum  will  grow,  although  I  have  witnessed  it  myself,  I 
know  not  how  to  mention.  I  am  well  aware  that  they  who 
have  not  visited  this  country  will  deem  whatever  I  may  say  on 
the  subject  a  violation  of  probability/' 

This  also  may  refer  to  the  "common  millet"  of  Europe,  though 
Herodotus  may  mean  the  holcus  or  sorghum  of  the  dictionaries 
we  have  quoted.  For  I  think  it  very  probable  that  a  species  of 
the  latter  took  its  name  from  the  locality  mentioned  by  Herod- 
otus, since  Daniel  when  a  prisoner  at  Babylon  (B.  C.  580) 
speaks  of  the  golden  image  erected  on  the  plain  oi  Dura,  (Dan. 

in,  i.) 

Forskal  applies  the  name  dukhun  to  a  corn  grass  much  lar- 
ger than  the  common  millet,  which  he  first  found  at  Rosetta; 
and  subsequently  he  found  it  commonly  cultivated  in  Arabia, 
where  it  attained  a  height  of  five  cubits,  with  seeds  the  size  of 
rice.  He  calls  it  holcus  dochna,  which,  probably,  is  also  the 
sorghum  of  the  dictionaries,  or  dura,  durra,  or  doura  corn,  and 
being  more  than  twice  the  height  of  the  common  millet,  agrees 
with  the  height  of  Herodotus's  millet. 

This  view  is  confirmed  further  by  Watson,  who  says :  "It  has 
been  supposed  that  the  dochan  means  what  is  now  called  in  the 
East  durra,  which  according  to  Neighbor,  is  a  sort  of  millet,  and 
when  made  into  bad  bread  with  camel's  milk,  oil,  butter 
or  grease,  is  almost  the  only  food  which  is  eaten  by  the  common 

people  of  Arabia  Felix It  is  also  used  in  Palestine  and  Syria, 

and  it  is  generally    agreed    that  it  yields  much   more  than  any 
other  kind  of  grain." 

Many  more  authorities  might  be  cited,  but  not  wishing  un- 
necessary accumulations,  we  think  that  we  have  now  clearly 
shown  two  genera  of  millets,  viz:  1.  Common  millet,  (panicum 
miliaceum,)  and  2.  Indian  millet,  (sorghum  vulgare.)  Each  of 
these  appears  in  many  varieties,  and  will  receive  further  at- 
tention in  their  appropriate  places  in  this  book.  None  of  these 
however,  seem  to  be  known  to  our  southern  people  as  millet.  A 
third  genus, 

SETARIA.    . 

The  old  Panicum  Germanicum  and  P.  Italicum,  now  classed 
by  botanists  as 

1.  S.  ITALICA  or  GERMANICA  ;  for  they  seem  to  be  only  va- 
rieties of  a  single  species.  They  are  called  Bengal  grass,  Ital- 
ian millet,  German  millet,  golden  millet,  Hungarian  millet,  etc. 
The  German  millet  was  brought  from  Southern  Europe  to  En- 
gland in  1548,  and  the  Italian  from  India  in  1816,  where  it  is 
called  Congue.  This  German  millet  or  Hungarian  grass  was 


106  FARMER'S   BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

introduced  into  France  in    1545,   and  thence    into   the    United 
States  through  the  Patent  Office. 

Among  other  seeds  ordered  from  a  house  in  New  York  were 
a  pound  each  of  Hungarian  grass  and  common  millet.  Each 
package  had  a  printed  slip  pasted  on,  disclaiming  all  responsi- 
bility for  genuineness ;  although  I  had  ordered  expressly  for 
the  purpose  of  arriving  at  the  truth  by  my  own  personal  obser- 
vations. Not  a  seed  of  either  germinated.  I  ordered  seeds  for 
the  same  purpose  from  a  house  at  Northport,  L.  I.,  also.  The 
Italian  millet  and  Hungarian  grass  prove  to  be  the  same,  or  so 
nearly  so  that  very  few  persons  seeing  a  sheaf  of  each  together 
would  be  willing  to  say  they  are  not  the  same  plant.  I  sowed 
other  samples  from  other  States  with  like  results.  Lastly,  I 
sowed  six  acres  with  "seeds  of  German  millet  from  Missouri,  a 
bushel  per  acre.  It  was  harvested  last  week.  Among  it  are 
fine  specimens  of  German  millet,  equally  good  of  Italian  millet, 
very  much  better  than  that  from  the  Northport  Italian  millet 
seed. 

There  are  also  specimens  of  golden  millet,  Hungarian  grass 
etc.,  all  from  the  same  seed — all  good.  It  was  planted  on 
broom  grass  sod  during  a  drought,  and  had  no  rain  till  after 
ready  to  mow  ;  consequently,  except  on  half  an  acre,  the  stand 
was  very  thin.  It  pays  me,  however,  very  well.  Finding  I 
would  get  too  much  'dirt  and  dust  by  cutting  and  raking  when 
it  was  just  in  bloom — in  the  right  stage  to  be  most  valuable  for 
forage — I  purposed  waiting  a  few  days  for  rain,  so  as  to  avoid 
the  dust.  When  the  rain  came,  it  was  so  copious  that  the  ground 
became  too  soft  to  support  either  team  or  machine;  so  I  was 
forced  to  delay  mowing  for  two  weeks,  when  part  of  the  seeds 
were  in  dough.  A  small  plot — an  eighth  of  an  acre — was  seed- 
ed from  the  same  sample  by  accident.  The  plot  was  poor,  part 
with  no  soil.  This  produces  a  good  thick  stand,  but  not  a  stem 
of  "German"  or  "Italian  millet,"  according  to  the  standard ; 
only  the  poorest  possible  Hungarian  grass. 

Yet  I  was  not  disappointed  in  the  result.  It  simply  shows 
the  effect  of  soil  and  other  influences  in  producing  varieties. 
By  sowing  a  lot  of  these  seeds  from  any  of  the  varieties,  or 
whatever  called,  in  two  years,  by  selection  of  heads  and  soils, 
half  a  dozen  distinct  .varieties  may  be  established.  But  on  soil 
of  even  quality  there  will  be  little  variation.  Any  of  these  va- 
rieties on  good  soil  should,  if  the  ground  be  moist,  be  ready  for 
moving  in  sixty  days  from  seeding,  and  produce  from  two  to 
four  tons  of  hay  per  acre.  It  is  folly  to  sow  it  on  poor  land. 

For  forage  it  should  be  cut  as  soon  as  it  blooms,  when  of  course 
it  is  worth  nothing  for  seed  bqt  most  valuable  for  forage  and 
exhausts  the  land  much  less.  If  left  for  the  seed  to  mature  they 
are  very  abundant  and  rich  feed,  but  the  stems  are  worth- 
less, while  the  soil  is  more  damaged.  The  matured  stems  are 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  107 

very  hard,  indigestible  and  very  injurious,  and  the  ripe  seeds 
will  founder  more  promptly  than  corn  and  sometimes  produce 
diabetes,  if  mouldy  and  too  freely  used.  If  cut  at  the  right  stage 
the  whole  plant  is  a  safe  and  very  valuable  forage.  Most  peo- 
ple delay  cutting  too  long. 

It  should  be  carefully  and  well  dried.  If  suffered  to  mould, 
or  mildew,  or  ferment  it  will  become  almost  worthless,  and  may 
even  become  dangerously  unwholesome  for.  animals.  In  Hun- 
gary it  is  said  to  be  preferred  to  everything  else  for  feeding 
horses.  It  is  the  Moha  de  Hongrie  of  France.  For  seed  it  is 
better  sown  in  drills ;  for  forage  broadcast  to  prevent  the  stems 
growing  too  large.  In  1875,  there  was  a  mania  for  German 
millet  seed,  which  run  them  up  to  $20  a  bushel  in  some  locali- 
ties. In  "two  years,  as  predicted,  the  seed  in  some  localities  fell 
to  fifty  cents  a  bushel ;  so  many,  not  knowing  how  to  manage 
it  were  so  sadly  disappointed  in  their  expectations  of  a  crop  and 
its  value. 

The  German  millet  grown  in  Tennessee  seems  to  be  the  best 
variety  ;  the  plant  is  larger  and  head  much  longer.  It  stands 
drought  well,  waiting  for  rain,  has  a  large  quantity  of  succulent 
leaves  relished  greatly  by  all  farm  stock,  and  is  thought  to  con- 
tain a  larger  proportion  of  nutritive  matter  than  any  of  the 
other  so-called  millets.  For  forage  it  should  be  sown  broad- 
cast, one  bushel  per  acre.  Thick  seedings  prevent  the  stems 
from  becoming  too  large  and  hard.  For  seed  ten  or  twelve  quarts 
per  acre  in  drills  will  suffice.  It  will  grow  from  one  to  seven 
feet  high  .according  to  the  quality  and  condition  of  the  land,  and 
yield  from  one-half  to  five  tons  per  acre,  with  as  great  differen- 
ces in  the  appearance  of  plants  as  in  quantity  of  forage. 

For  using  alone  for  feeding  working  animals,  I  much  prefer 
it  to  corn,  oats,  or  anything  else.  I  have  made  many  experi- 
ments with  many  kinds  of  feed,  but  never  found  anything  more 
satisfactory  than  German  millet  alone  fed  for  two  months  to 
teams  daily  working. 

Another  grass  classed  with  the  millets  is  treated  on  a  subse- 
quent page  under  the  title  Penicillaria ;  and  a  fifth  under  the 
name  Panicum  sanguinalej  treated  on  page  88.  This  last'  is  the 
Digitaria  sanguinalis  of  some  authors,  the  manna  grass  of  the 
Germans.  It  is  sometimes  cultivated  in  Poland  for  the  grain 
as  a  substitute  for  rice,  etc.,  and  hence  called  Polish  millet.  It 
seems  to  thrive  there  under  cultivation  about  as  well  as  with  us 
in  spite  of  attempts  to  exterminate  it.  It  is  not  red  or  bloody  in 
appearance  as  might  be  inferred  from  its  specific  name  and  as 
taught  in  some  books.  The  name  is  said  to  have  been  founded 
on  a  practice  of  idle,  vicious  boys  in  Germany  thrusting  the 
spikes  up  the  nostrils  and  thus  causing  a  sanguineous  flow. 

We  have  in  the  southern  States  six  other  uncultivated  grasses 
properly  belonging  with  the  Millets,  and  to  the  genus  Setaria. 


108  FAKMEK'S   BOOK  OF 

2.  S.  SETOSA,  Texas  Millet,  Pigeon  grass,  Bristle  grass. 
Some  years  ago    I  received  seeds   of  this  grass   from  Texas 

and  at  first  it  was  mistaken  for  8.  Italica,  which  it  resembles  ii 
general  appearance,  though  much  larger.  It  has  broad,  long 
light  leaves  and  a  stem  from  six  to  twelve  feet  or  more  high 
bearing  cylindrical  racemose  spikes  from  eight  to  thirty  inche 
long,  tapering  to  each  end,  gracefully  nodding,  and  altogethe 
making  a  fine,  display.  The  spike  is  extremely  bristly,  am 
produces  a  very  large  quantity  of  seed,  which  maturing  fro n 
the  top  of  the  spike  downward,  are  constantly  dropping  fo 
many  days.  It  is  much  disposed  to'branch  at  every  joint,  an< 
sometimes  the  branches  also  send  up  other  branches;  an< 
all  these  terminate  in  seed  bearing  spikes.  The  whole  plant  i 
very  light.  Mr.  Collier's  analysis  of  it  gives  :  oil  1 .05,  wax  .4i 
sugars  9.25,  gum  and  dextrin  5.15,  cellulose  32.76,  amylaceou 
cellulose  26.41,  alkali  extract  9.60,  albuminoids  8.61,  ash  6.71 
His  analysis  of  the  ash  gives:  potassium  oxide  39.33,  sodiun 
2.47,  sodium  oxide  1.18,  calcium  oxide  2.31,  magnesium  oxid« 
1,56,  sulphuric  acid  3.51,  phosphoric  acid  3.24,  silicic  acid  42.5! 
chlorine  3.81. 

Although  containing  so  much  nutritive  matter,  none  of  ixn 
animals  ean  be  induced  to  eat  it.  So  that  its  utility  is  in  th< 
way  of  ornament. 

3.  S.  VERTICILLATA,  Bristly  Foxtail. 

This  foreigner  seems  at  home  with  us.  The  stems  arc  tw< 
feet  high  sparingly  branched  and  topped  with  cylindrical  pah 
green  spikes  two  or  three  inches  long  with  bristles  short,  sin 
gle  or  in  pairs,  roughened  downwards.  All  the.  following  hav< 
bristles  roughened  upward. 

4.  S.  GLATJCA,  Fox-tail  Grass. 

Stems  one  to  three  feet  high,  branched  ;  tawny-yellow,  o 
purplish  spikes  two  or  three  inches  long;  bristles  six  to  ten  ii 
two  clusters,  common. 

5.  S.  VIRIDIS,  Green  Fox-tail,  Bottle  Grass. 

Stems  one  or  two  feet  high  ;  spike  one  or  two  inches  long 
gr,fien;  bristles  one  to  thjee  to  each  spikelet. 

6.  S.  CORRUGATA,  Wrinkled  Fox-tail. 

Stems  two  or  three  feet  high  ;  purple  spikes  three  to  six  inch 
es  long,  compound,  dense  ;  bristles  one  to  each  spikelet. 

7.  S.  COMPOSITA,  Large  Fox-tail  Grass. 

Stems  two  to  four  feet  long;  spikes  six  to  twelve  inches  long 
bristles  single  or  in  pairs,  long. 

These  grasses  are  widely  diifused  in  fields,  commons,  alone 
and  in  roads  and  open  forests.  Some  of  them  afford  grazing— 
none  are  of  much  value  for  that  purpose.  Poultry  are  fond  o 
the  seeds,  and  they  probably  serve  a  similar  purpose  as  those  o 
the  German  and  common  millets  in  increasing  the  egg  crop,  foi 
which  the  latter  are  so  much  esteemed. 


ANI>  OTHER   FORAGE  PLANTS.  109 

PENICILLARIA. 

P.  SPICATA,  African    Cane,    Horse,    Cat-tail,   Egyptian,  Ja- 
pan, East  Indian,  or  Pearl  Millet. 

This  grass  has  been  grown  to  some  extent  for  twenty-five 
years  in  many  parts  of  the  southern  States — more  largely  since 
1865.  Like  all  the  other  millets  it  should  be  planted  on  very 
rich,  well  prepared  land  to  obtain  the  best  results.  It  may  be 
planted  in  the  spring  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  sufficiently  warm 
to  bring  it  up  promptly,  one  peck  of  seed  per  acre  in  drills  two 
feet  apart,  or  two  pecks  broadcast.  No  crop  will  pay  better  or- 
yield  more  forage  than  this  on  very  rich,  highly  fertilized  land. 
On  such  land  it  has  been  cut  on  an  average  every  forty-five 
days  from  the  time  of  planting  till  frost,  with  a  reported  pro- 
duct of  80  to  100  tons  of  green  forage,  or  from  16  to  20  tons  of 
dry  hay.  At  the  beginning  of  the  season  if  the  ground  is  too 
wet  and  cold,  it  starts  slowly;  but  as  the  temperature  rises  and 
more  roots  are  made  its  growth  is  more  rapid  so  that  it  becomes 
marvellous,  increasing  from  six  inches  a  ^reek  in  the  beginning 
to  fifteen  or  twenty  inches  a  week  in  the  summer — the  whole 
number  of  cuttinirs  in  the  season  aggregating  a  total  length  of 
twenty  or  twenty-five  feet.  It  tillers  enormously  and  produces 
a  large  number  of  broad  succulent  leaves  and  sweet,  juicy  stalks 
with  rather  short  joints  and  terminal  spikes  that  resemble 
in  general  appearance  the  common  cat-tail  growing  in  southern 
marshes. 

Where  it  grows  luxuriantly,  it  is  impossible  to  cure  it  for  hay 
on  the  ground  upon  which  it  is  grown  ;  so  that  it  would  be  im- 
practicable to  make  hay  of  a  large  field  of  it  sown  solid.  Hence 
it  must  be  sown  in  small  patches  or  in  beds  with  spaces  be- 
tween upon  which  to  spread  it  when  cut.  Another  serious  troub- 
le would  occur  in  the  attempt  to  cure  the  grass  on  the  ground 
where  it  grew.  When  cut,  it  would  cover  the  stubble  so  deep 
and  be  so  long  curing  that  much  of  the  latter  would  be  killed 
and  all  damaged.  These  difficulties  would  occur  only  on  rich 
land  to  begin  with  and  then  manured  with  five  or  ten  tons  or 
more  of  stable  manure  or  its  equivalent  per  acre.  But  any  one 
can  have  the  crop  as  light  as  he  chooses,  even  less  than  half  a 
ton  per  acre,  by  sowing  on  poorly  prepared  and  exhausted  land. 
It  will  be  readily  understood  however,  that  the  best  plan  is  to 
sow  small  patches  on  the  strongest  land  on  the  farm  ;  for  on  most 
farms  a  small  surface  of  good  land  would  produce  enough  of  the 
forage  whether  to  use  green  or  dry. 

To  make  the  best  hay,  it  should  be  cut  before  seeding ;  for 
feeding  green,  it  may  be  cut  many  times.  It  should  always  be 
cut  a  few  inches  (three,  or  four)  above  the  ground,  as  new 
growth  will  thus  be  more  prompt  than  when  cut  close,  to  the 
ground. 


110  KAKMEK'.S    HOOK  OF 

Cattle  and  horses  eat  it  greedily  whether  green  or  dry.  If 
matured  for  seed  before  cutting,  the  stalks  become  so  hard 
that  they  are  worth  no  more  than  stripped,  dry  corn  stalks. 

Planters,  on  the  bottom  lands  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  its 
tributaries,  who  buy  hay,  would  find  themselves  much  more 
cheaply,  abundantly  and  satisfactorily  supplied  by  sowing  small 
lots  of  this  or  Johnson  grass  on  their. dryest,  richest  lands. 

OENCHRUS. 

1.  C.  TRIBUBULOIDES,  Hedgehog,  or  Bur  Grass. 

This  grass,  with  prostrate  stems  .one  or  two  feet  long,  spikes 
one  or  two  inches  long  and  having  tei.  or  fifteen  involucres  arm- 
ed with  spreading  spines  which  become  a  hard  burr,  is  found  un 
the  sands  along  the  coasts  and  at  some  places  many  miles  inland. 

2.  C.  ECHINATUS,  Cock-spur  is  found  in  fields  and  on  waste 
•lauds  further    inland;    the  stems  one  or  two    feet    long;    spike 
three  or  four  inches  ;  involucre  purplish,    with  spines  and  barb- 
ed bristles.     These  are  worthless  weeds,  and  the  burs  with  their 
rigid  spines  pierce  painfully  the  bare  feet  of  children  and  have 
to  be  removed  by  the  hands  or  an  instrument. 

• 
STENOTAFHRTJM. 

S.  AMERICANISM,  Hard  Grass. 

This  perennial  evergreen  grass  makes  excellent  winter  pasture; 
but  it  is  limited  to  damp  sandy  soils  along  the  coast,  its  culms 
are  creeping,  flattened,  with  erect  flowering  branches  six  to 
twelve  inches  high ;  leaves  two  to  six  inches  long;  spikelets  by 
pairs,  one  sessile  the  other  pedicelled,  sunk  in  excavations  of 
the  flattened  rachis. 

RoTTBCELLIA. 
V 

R.  RUGGSA,  and  R.  COU'RUGATA. 

These  are  found  in  barrens,  swamps  and  ponds,  from  two  to 
four  feet  high,  and  R.  cylindrica  in  dry  sandy  soil  in  Florida 
and  are  probably  worthless  for  stock  food. 

MANISURUS  GRANULARLS  is  a  foreign  grass,  one  or  two  feet 
high,  now  found  in  fields  and  pastures  in  the  southern  States,  of 
little  value. 

ANDROPOGON. 

A.  .VIRGIMCUS,  Viiginia  Beard  Grass,  Broom  Grass. 

This  pla-nt  is  often  called  'broom  sedge.7  But  this  anomalous 
compound,  word  is  properly  excluded  from  all  dictionaries  and 
is  recognized  by  no  standard  author.  It  should  find  no  place 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS,          111 

in  any  language,  oral  or  written  ;  for  each  of  its  components 
contains  a  false  notion,  as  the  plant  does  not  belong  to  either 
th'e  broom  or  the  sedge  family.  It  is  a  true  grass.  'Bfoom- 
tjraftft'  is  pretty  widely  used,  but  a  number  of  other  plants  have 
the  same  name  ;  hence  this  is  not  entirely  satisfactory.  Besom- 
grass  would  be  open  to  none  of  the  objections,  but  contains  an  ex- 
pressive truth. 

The  andropbgom  have  long  rough  leaves  and  solid  woody 
stems.  Few  of  them  are  of  sufficient  agricultural  value  to  re- 
quire notice.  The  A.  Virginicus,  however,  contains  a  large 
quantity  of  nutritive  matters  as  will  be. seen  by  Mr.  Collier's 
analysis,  which  follows : 

t 

Oil,  1.24         Amylaceous  cellulose,  26.32 

Wax,  .47         Alkali  extract,  5.80 

Sugars,  7.98         Albuminoids,  13.00 

Gum  and  dextrin,  5.02         Ash,  6.44 

Cellulose,  33.72 

100.00 

ANASYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  7.01         Phosphoric  acid,  2.97 

Potassium  oxide,  13.93         Silicic  acid,  58.33 

Calcium  oxide,  6.76         Chlorine,  6.37 

Magnesium  oxide,  1.83 

Sulphuric  acid,  2.80  100.00 

When  this  grass  dries,  it  may  be  burned  off  in  the  fall;  and 
in  the  spring  the  perennial  roots  send  up  a  new  crop  of  nutri- 
tious and  tender  herbage  which  cattle,  horses,  etc.  relish  and  eat 
with  much  benefit.  As  soon  as  the  seed  stems  start,  stock  eat 
no  more  of  it.  It  becomes  worthless  for  grazing  or  hay.  If  cut 
before  the  stalks  start  up,  it  is  very  easily  cured  and  makes  a 
valuable  hay.  It  is  easily  damaged  by  moisture  and  therefore 
should  not  be  allowed  to  take  rain  or  dew  after  wilting.  A  few 
hours'  sunshine  will  cure  it  and  make  a  better  hay  than  large 
quantities  of  some  other^dnds  sold  annually  in  all  our  southern 
markets. 

It  is  one  of  the  best  materials  for  the  use  of  nurserymen  in 
packing  their  trees  and  plants.  Excellent,  durable,  handsome 
baskets  are  made  of  it — also  bee-hives.  Horse  collars  and  oth- 
er things  are  stuffed  with  it ;  and  the  dried  culms,  having  the 
leaves  and  seeds  hackled  out,  are  formed  into  besoms,  that  are 
light,  pleasant  to  use  and  sweep  cleaner  than  the  proverbial  new 
broom  from  the  store. 

The  practice  of  burning  off  annually  the  broom  grass,  wheth- 
er in  fields  or  forests  is  very  reprehensible.  It  dissipates  the  val- 
uable organic  fertilizers  which  the  plant  contains  and  gives  op- 
portunity for  the  rains  to  wash  away  the  rich  mineral  plant  food 


112  KAKMEK'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

in  the  ash,  and  otherwise  damages  the  soil  most  seriously. 
Each  acre  of  it  plowed  under  is  worth  as  much  as  many  tons  of 
home  made  manure  that  cost  much  time  to  make,  haul  and  -dis- 
tribute over  the  land.  Plowed  under  any  time  from  the  loth, 
of  May  till  the  20th.  of  July,  the  land  immediately  sown  broad- 
cast with  one  or  two  bushels  per  acre  of  southern  iield  peas  and 
harrowed,  a  good  crop  of  the  latter  may  be  cheaply  produced. 
The  earlier  peas  that  make  much  vine  may  be  mowed  and  re- 
moved to  furnish  abundant  hay  for  winter  use ;  or  the  vines  may 
have  a  heavy  roller  passed  over  them  and  then  be  plowed  un- 
der in  September  and  October  with  oats  or  barley.  Magnifi- 
cent winter  pastures  will  be  obtained  from  December  first  till 
March  ;  and  in  May  and  June  such  harvests  of  barley  and  oats 
as  are  rarely  seen.  Tiie  broom  grass  is  destroyed,  the  land  is 
mellow  and,  if  not  desired  for  other  crops  at  once,  may,  if  the 
season  be  favorable,  soon  be  covered  with  ' volunteer7  pea  vines. 
But  turn  on  the  stubble  no  stock,  except  hogs  to  glean  the  re- 
maining grain  for  a  few  days,  plow  the  stubble  under  in  beds, 
and  the  ground  is  in  the  best  condition  for  producing  sweet  po- 
tatoes. Harvest  these  in  October,  harrow  and^roll  the  ground 
and  it  is  just  right  for  receiving  red  or  white  clover,  blue,  orchard, 
red-top,  meadow  oat,  or  other  winter  grass  seed. 

Again;  this  grass  may  be  plowed  under  any  time  from  Au- 
gust first  till  fifteenth  April;  the  land  then  planted  with  cotton 
seed  from  tenth  to  twenty -fifth  of  May  will  produce  a  largely 
increased  yield  of  cotton. 

The  A.  Tiictcrourvs,  Cluster-flowered  beard  grass,  A.  furcatm, 
Finger-spiked  beard  grass,  A.  Ellicttii,  Silver  beard  grass,  and 
A.  scoparius,  Purple  wood  grass,  Broom  grass,  contain  mucLu 
less  than  A.  Virginicus  of  animal  or  valuable  plant  food.  They 
would  not  pay  for  harvesting  unless  the  stock-feeder  had  con- 
centrated food  and  could  obtain  no  better  food  to  use  with  it. 
Mi1.  C Jollier's  analysis  of  A.  scoparius  follows  :  oil  1.16,  wax  .43, 
sugars  5.37,  gum  and  dextrin  3.44,  cellulose  24.91,  amylaceous 
cellulose -26.51,  alkali  extract  28.07,  albuminoids  6.21,  ash  3.90 
to  100  parts  of  the  dried  grass.  His  analysis  of  the  ash  gave: 
potassium  15.70,  calcium  oxide  2.12,  magnesium  oxide  .58,  sul-. 
phuric  acid  trace,  phosphoric  acid  1.33,  silicic  acid  64.62,  chlo- 
rine 15.65. 

Six  other  species  not  mentioned  here  are  found  in  the  south- 
ern States.  A.  melanocarpus  is  remarkable  as  the  largest,  being 
from  four  to  eight  feet  high  and  probably  introduced. 

TRIPSACUM,    Sesame  Grass. 

T.  DACTYLOIDES,  Gama  Grass. 

This  native  perennial  grass  was  formerly  found  widely  dif- 
fused through  the  southern  States  from  the  seashore  to  the 


AND  OTHER  FOR  AGUE  PLANTS.  113 

mountains.  It  is  now  seldom  seen  and  but  few  protect  it.  It 
has  been  destroyed  by  cattle.  Some  forty  or  more  years  ago, 
many  people  in  Mississippi  and  Louisiana  planted  patches  of  it; 
a  few  of  which  remain.  All  kinds  of  live  stock  eat  it  with  a 
good  relish  when  green  and  are  fond  of  the  sweet,  nutritious^ 
but  coarse  hay.  It  may  be  cut  five  or  six  times  a  year  under 
favorable  conditions  and  yields  an  immense  quantity  of  good 
forage.  I  have  measured  the  broad  leaves  of  this  grass  seven 
feet  long  and  culms  ten  and  a  half  feet.  The  latter  are  worth- 
less and  the  grass  should  be  cut  before  the  stems  run  up.  The 
flowers  are  arranged  in  from  one  to  three  compact  spikes  at  the 
top  of  the  culm  ;  sometimes  on  branches  also.  At  the  top  of 
the  culm  are  the  male  flowers,  consisting  of  the  elongated  orange 
or  brownish  colored  anthers  each  set  attached  to  a  joint  of  the 
stem,  one  joint  above  another ;  below  these  are  other  joints  bear- 
ing the  female  flowers  or  stigmas  consisting  of  long  velvety, 
dark  purple  threads.  The  top  joints  soon  drop  off ;  then  as 
they  mature  from  above  downwards  the  lower  joints  successive- 
ly fall.  The  latter  contain  each,  one  seed,  many  of  which  seem 
to  be  imperfect  as  they  do  not  germinate  readily.  Hence  it  is 
best  propagated  by  setting  out  the  large  rhizomes,  which  are 
abundant  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  often  piled  in  large 
quantities  on  one  another.  These  rhizomes  are  half  an  inch  to 
an  inch  thick  and  from  the  under  side  send  down  into  the  soil 
many  large,  strong  fibrous  roots.  Each  rhizome  has  one  bud ; 
but  if  more  it  may  be  divided  into  as  many  parts  as  buds.  It 
may  be  set  from  January  to  last  of  March.  When  once  well  set 
it  requires  a  team  of  at  least  six  good  oxen  and  a  very  large 
strong  plow  to  tear  it  up.  It  turns  up  in  large  masses  of  one  to 
two  feet  across  and  these  cannot  be  crushed  or  broken  in  pieces; 
and  as  ^he  rhizomes  are  not  killed  by  this  process,  the  planter 
is  in  worse  condition  than  if  he  had  not  plowed  it  and  no  nearer 
rid  of  it ;  unless  he  piles  it  with  immense  labor  with  fuel  inter- 
mixed or  hauls  it  away.  It  is  however,  very  easily  destroyed 
by  keeping  cattle  and  other  stock  grazing  it  during  spring  and 
summer.  It  grows  well  in  marsh,  better  on  hills,  best  on  rich, 
moist  bottoms. 

Analysis  of  Gama  grass  by  Mr.  Peter  Collier. 


Oil,  1.72         Amylaceous  cellulose,  20.84 

Wax,  .68         Alkali  extract,  23.09 

Sugars,  8.84         Albuminoids,  8.62 

Gum  and  dextrin,  3.66         Ash,  5.96 

Cellulose,  26.59 

100.00 


114  FARMER'S   BO'OK  OF   GRASSES 

ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  6.30  Sulphuric  acid,  3.69 

Potassium  oxide,  29.06  Phosphoric  acid,  2.52 

Sodium,  4.77  Silicic  acid,  37.87 

Calcium  oxide,  1.64  Chlorine,  13.08 

Magnesium  oxide,  1.07 

100.00 
ERIA NTHUS,  Fox-tai  i . 

E.  ALOPECUROIDES,  Woolly  Beard  Grass,  Plume  Grass. 

This  grass  grows  from  four  to  ten  feet  high,  with  panicle  one 
or  two  feet  long,  pyramidal,  woolly;  sheaths  of  the  rough  leaves 
woolly  above.  The  variety  Contortus  is  smaller,  smoother  and 
has  twisted  awns.  The  variety  brevibarbis  is  also  smooth, 
smaller,  has  short  hairs,  and  hence  called  short  haired  woolly 
grass.  K.  strictus,  nearly  smooth  throughout  and  four  to  eight 
feet  high,  is  found,  like  the  others,  on  dry  or  wet  lands  and  riv- 
er banks.  They  are  not  valuable  for  forage,  but  the  first  is 
quite  ornamental  with  its  graceful,  large,  plumose  panicle. 

SORGHUM. 

On  another  page,  (103)  under  the  general  head  of  The  Millets, 
this  grass  is  partly  considered,  forming  there  the  second  divis- 
ion of  millets,  that  of  the-  dictionaries:  SORGHUM  YULGARE, 
Indian  millet,  great  millet;  Fr.  Sorgho,  gros  millet;  Ger.  fcorgsa- 
mur;  It.  Sagina;  Sp.  Molce,  Akandia.  This  is  the  Durra  or 
Doura  of  Arabia,  Persia,  etc.;  Jovaree  of  India;  Xagara  of 
North  China.  It  was  brought  from  India  to  England  in  1^96, 
and  to  Cuba  in  1824,  and  thence  to  Florida,  etc. 

In  our  southern  States,  we  have  three  native  species  of  sor- 
ghum, viz:  1.  S.  avenaeewn,  oat  like  sorghum;  2.  8.  nutans,  In- 
dian grass,  wood  grass,  nodding  sorghum ;  3.  S.  secundum. 
These  are  of  little  value  as  found  in  sterile  woodlands ;  and  I  am 
not  aware  that  they  have  ever  been  cultivated. 

There  has  been  much  diversity  of  opinion  among  botanists 
about  the  foreign  species ;  some  contending  for  one  species  and 
many  varieties;  others  for  several  species,  each  presenting  va- 
rieties. The  varieties  are  almost  numberless.  In  a  collection 
of  plants  sent  to  the  Museum  of  Natural  .History,  at  Paris,  in 
1840,  by  M.  d'Abadie,  there  were  thirty  kinds  of  sorghum;  and 
in  1857  Mr.  Wray  arrived  in  the  United  States,  bringing  with 
him  the  seeds  of  fifteen  varieties  of  South  African  sorghum,  or 
imphee.  Other  varieties  have  since  been  introduced.  But  we 
cannot  recount  the  history  or  even  the.  names  of  these  varieties; 
to  do  so  would  require  a  large  book.  The  most  noted  species 
or  varieties  besides  the  S.  YULGARE  are :  1.  S.  CERNUUM,  Gum- 


AND  OTHEK  FORAGE  PLANTS.-  115 

ea  corn,  with  densely  contracted  panicle,  and  cultivated  for  the 
grain :  2.  S.  HALAPENSE,  Cuba  grass,  cultivated  for  soiling, 
grazing,  and  hay ;  and,  3.  S.  SACGHARATUM,  sweet  sorghum, 
Chinese  and  African  sugar  cane,  cultivated  for  the  juices  of  the 
stems  and  the  broom  corn  for  brooms.  The  seeds  of  all  the  va- 
rieties are  valuable  food. 

The  S.  vulgare,  great  or  Indian  millet,  has  been  much  culti- 
vated from  the  earliest  times  in  India  and  across  to  Southern 
Europe  and  Africa  and  thence  extending  to  all  countries  suffi- 
ciently warm.  It  was  and  is  yet  used  in  many  countries  not 
only  as  food  for  inferior  animals,  but  also  for  man.  It  has; 
been,  at  different  times  during  the  last  sixty  years,  extensively 
advertised  for  sale  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States  under 
taking  names  and  extravagant  commendation,  as  chocolate  corn, 
doura  corn,  Indian  millet,  Chinese  wheat,  Oregon  rice,  ivory 
wheat,  upland  or  highland  rice,  pampas  rice,  etc. 

Quite  a  number  of  planters  of  Mississippi  have  cultivated  it 
during  the  current  and  a  few  preceding  years.  All  -with  whom 
I  have  conversed  speak  very  highly  of  its  nutritive  and  fatten- 
ing properties  for  hogs  and  other  animals  and  of  the  large  yield 
of  grain.  They  agree  also  that  it  makes  a  good,  wholesome 
flour,  for  bread,  cakes  etc.,  while  all  relish  it  as  a  substitute  for 
cracked  wheat/  Some  of  our  own  family  esteem  it  as  very  pal- 
atable and  desirable  food.  Of  course  poultry  and  other  birds 
devour  it  greedily.  The  only  trouble  I  have  experienced  with 
it  is,  if  a  small  quantity  only  be  grown,  the  birds  devour  so 
much  as  it  matures  and  before  ready  for  harvesting. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  S.  vulgare,  but  for  the  table,  that 
with  large  open  panicle  and  pearl  like  grains  is  preferable, 
while  it  is  as  valuable  as  any  other  variety  for  animals — in  fact, 
I  prefer  is  for  them.  Bearded  varieties  are  not  so  much  dama- 
ge •!  by  birds.  After  harvesting  all  are  liable  to  be  destroyed 
by  the  weevil. 

It  may  be  planted  in  April  and  cut  several  times  during  the 
season.  In  common  with  other  sorghums  it  bears  drought  much 
better  than  corn,  or  any  of  our  small  grain.  When  it  heads, 
cut  off  the  top,  and  immediately  other  heads  shoot  out^  from  ev- 
ery joint  and  many  new  stems  from  the  root,  all  which  may  be 
used  as-  needed.  When  thus  cut  it  centinues  to  renew  its  growth 
till  frost,  unless  prevented  by  drought.  In  all  warm  countries 
it  is  unanimously  acknowledged  to  yield  much  more  than  any 
other  grain. 

S.  cernuum  seeds  are  used  for  the  same  purposes  as  those  of 
S.  vulgare.  The  leaves  of  both  are  nutritious  and  are  eaten  by 
stock.  They  frequently  eat  the  entire  stalk. 

The  grains  of  the  S.  fjaccharatum  may  be  used  also  for  the 
table  but  are  not  so  nice  as  the  two  preceding.  They  are  per- 
haps equally  valuable  for  stock  feed.  The  whole  plant  has 


116  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

been  used  by  some  over  a  wide  extent  of  our  country  for  long- 
er or  shorter  periods  since  1855,  as  feed  for  horses,  Cattle  and 
hogs.  Some  praise  and  others  condemn  in  strong  terms.  All 
agree  that  the  leaves  stripped  oil  and  dried  like  those  of  Indian 
corn  make  a  fodder  superior  to  the  latter.  They  require  more 
time  to  dry  for  obvious  reasons.  When  the  cane  is  ready  to 
cut  for  rolling,  the  leaves  are  stripped  and  managed  as  those  of, 
corn,  and  the  tops  or  heads  cared  for  properly.  Thus,  much 
good  forage  is  secured  for  the  animals,  and  from  fifty  to  two 
hundred  gallons  of  syrup  per  acre  for  the  people. 

If  the  cutting  is  succeeded  by  rains,  there  will  be  a  second 
growth  for  forage.  Taking  off  such  heavy  crops  must  propor- 
tionately exhaust  the  land.  Among  the  first  as  well  as  last  to 
plant  and  use  the  sweet  sorghums  for  soiling  and  fodder,  .  I 
have  never,  in  a  single  instance,  had  any  bad  effect  on  or  inju- 
ry of  an  animal.  Where  evil  has  resulted  ft  must  be  from  bad 
management.  For  feeding  stock,  the  plant  may  be  cut  several 
times  during  the  season  ;  and  the  stalks  should  be  passed  through 
a  stalk-cutter. 

The  S.  vulgar e  sometimes  has  a  very  large  open  panicle  with 
long  nodding  branches ;  and  it  varies  from  this  form  to  a  very 
short-branched,  densely  compacted,  rigid,  erect,  club  shaped 
panicle. 

S.  cernuum,  Guinea  corn,  Chicken  corn,  recently  White 
Egyptian  corn.  This  has  all  the  variety  in  form  of  panicles  as 
the  preceding,  differing  in  having  the  peduncle  very  long  and 
reflexed,  turning  the  panicle  so  as  to  point  directly  down. 
This  is  the  perfect  character ;  but  often  it  is  bent  further  and 
across  itself;  and  then  it  varies  in  the  other  direction,  so  that 
panicles  may  be  found  inclined  at  all  angles  with  the  horizon. 
From  my  own  study  of  these  two  so-called  species,  under  con- 
ditions miles  apart,  where  they  could  not  possibly  intermix.  I 
am  convinced  that  they  are  but  one,  with  a  natural  tendency  to 
return  to  the  erect  form  of  open  panicle.  Both  are  to  be  plant- 
ed and  cultivated  alike.  Plant  in  rows  three  feet  apart,  drop- 
ping a  few  seed  from  twelve  to  twenty  inches  apart,  using  about 
four  quarts  clean,  sound  seed  per  acre,  or  drill  thinly  about  a 
bushel.  About  two  workings  with  a  good  cultivator  will  suffice 
if  the  ground  be  in  good  condition  to  begin  with  ;  if  not  the 
hoe  may  be  needed  and  other  work. 

S.  saccharatum,  Imphee  or  African  sugar  cane,  (S.  nigrum, 
black  or  Chinese  sugar  cane  being  probably  only  a  variety,) 
may  be  planted  and  treated  in  all  respects  in  the  same  manner 
as  a  forage  crop ;  for  which  I  prefer  it  very  much  to  the  varie- 
ties of  Doura.  The  broom  corn  belongs  to  S.  sa,ccharatum,  but 
is  worthless  for  forage,  except  the  seed  which  are  very  nutritious. 
For  syrup  and  sugar  the  bent-top  variety  is,  in  my  locality, 
decidedly  the  best,  being  more  easily  clarified  and  granulated, 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.         117 

yielding  more  and  waiting  longer  without  deterioration  after 
ready  for  the  mill. 

The  bent  top  variety  produces  more  seed  than  the  others,  but 
stock  do  not  relish  them  so  well ;  probably  from  the  head,  when 
fed  unthreshed,  making  too  large  a  mouthful  for  comfortable 
mastication  and  from  its  being  more  bitter  than  other  varieties 
when  immature  or  not  dried.  Like  the  bent-top  Doura  corn, 
the  peduncle  has  a  tendency  to  rise  up,  and  panicles  may  be 
seen  at  every  angle  with  the  horizon,  both  above  and  below; 
and  also  a  tendenoy  to  change  from  the  short  branched,  close 
packed,  to  the  open,  long,  nodding  branched  panicle.  And  in 
proportion  as  it  assumes  the  latter  characters,  it  becomes  more 
a  broom  or  Doura  corn  and  less  a  sugar  cane. 

For  sugar,  seeds  should  be  carefully  selected  in  the  field. 
Stalks  with  the  most  compact  panicle  and  bent  peduncle  should 
be  selected  and  remain  until  the  seed  are  perfectly  ripe.  After 
removing  the  panicle,  the  stalks  will  still  be  good  for  sugar  or 
syrup.  For  seed,  only  those  stalks  should  be  taken  with 
the  kead  turned  down  so  far  as  to  touch  the  stem  below  or  even 
cross  it.  This  variety  requires  a  longer  time  to  mature  than 
the  others,  but  it  is  very  much  larger.  For  syrup  it  should 
have  more  room  than  when  planted  for  forage — having  rows  at 
least  four  feet  apart.  * 

All  these  sorghums  send  roots  down  several  feet  deep  and 
make  more  and  better  syrup  on  gravelly  or  sandy  sub-soil.  If 
the  bagAse  or  stalks  are  returned  and  plowed  under,  the  land 
is  very  little  exhausted.  I  have  seen  them  giown  for  years  on 
the  same  thin  land  without  fertilizers  and  with  little  sign  of 
exhaustion. 

Before  dismissing  the  sweet  Sorghums,  perhaps  I  should  state 
that  the  longer  they  are  permitted  to  stand  after  maturity,  the 
greater  tendency  1  find  to  generate  formic  acid  in  boiling  the 
juice  for  syrup.  This  tendency  is  decidedly  greater  in  the  bent- 
top  or  goose-neck  variety  than  in  any  other  I  have  tested. 
This  acid,  so  difficult  to  eliminate  while  making  the  syrup,  be- 
ing offensive  in  odor  and  flavor,  damages  syrups  otherwise  most 
perfect, 

SORGHUM  NUTANS,  Indian  grass,  Wood  grass. 

This  and  the  two  other  native  species,  mentioned  on  a  prece- 
ding page,  are  of  little  nutritive  value  as  will  be  seen  by  Mr. 
Collier's 

ANALYSIS  OF  SORGHUM  NUTANS. 

Oil,  1.57         Amylaceous  cellulose,     27.25 

Wax,  .10         Alkali  extract,  14.44 

Sugars,  7.27         Albuminoids,  3.29 

Gum  and  dextrin,  3.75         Ash,  5.63 

Cellulose,  36.70 

100.00 


118  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

* 

ANALYSIS  OF  ASH. 

Potassium,  6.74  Phosphoric  acid,               2.35 

Potassium  oxide,  16.84  Silicic  acid,                     61.55 

Calcium  oxide,  2.92  Chlorine,                            6.11 

Magnesium  oxide,  1.36 

Sulphuric  acid,  2.13  300.00 

This  plant  ranges  from  3  to  6  high  including  the  pani- 
cle one  or  two  feet  long.  The  other  two  species  are  smaller. 
Although  Mr.  Collier  says:  "This  grass  has  not  usually  been 
considered  of  much  agricultural  value,  but  it  forms  an  import- 
ant part  of  the  native  grass  of  the  western  prairies,  and  if  cut 
early,  forms  good  and  nutritious  hay,"  it  can  be  substituted, 
even  in  the  poorest  sandy  soils  where  it  grows,  by  better  grasses. 
It,  like  the  andropogons  or  broom  grasses,  is  remarkable  rather 
for  the  small  quantity  of  soluble  nutritive  matter  and  the  ex- 
traordinary quantity  of  silicic  acid  it  contains. 

SORGHUM  HALAPENSE,  Johnson  Grass. 

This  has  been  called  Cuba  grass,  Guinea  grass,  Egyptian 
grass,  Means  grass,  Alabama  Guinea  grass  etc. 

It  seems  pretty  well  agreed  now  however,  to  call  this  John- 
son grass  and  leave  the  name  Guinea  grass  for  the  Panicum 
jumentorum,  to  which  it  properly  belongs.  (See  pp.  98-100). 
It  is  true  that  in  .Mr.  Howard's  pamphlet,  as  well  as  in  many 
periodicals  and  books  and  in  letters  and  common  usage  this 
grass  has  been  far  more  generally  called  Guinea  grass\han  the 
true  Guinea  grass  itself,  thus  causing  vast  confusion.  It  is 
therefore  assuredly  time  to  call  each  by  its  right  name.  John- 
son grass  is  perennial  and  has  cane-like  roots  or  more  properly 
underground  stems  from  the  size  of  a  goose  quill  to  that  of  the 
little  finger.  These  roots  are,  tender,  and  hogs  are  fond  of,  and 
thrive  on  them  in  winter.  The  roots  litteral- 
ly  fill  the  ground  near  the  surface  and  every  joint  is  capable  of 
developing  a  bud.  Hence  the  grass  is  very  readily  propagated 
from  root  cuttings.  It  is  also  propagated  from  the  seed,  but 
not  always  so  certainly ;  for  in  some  localities  many  faulty  seeds 
are  produced,  and  in  other  places  no  seed  are  matured.  Before 
sowing  the  seed,  therefore,  they  siiould  be  tested,  as  should  all 
grass  seeds  indeed,  in  order  to  know  what  proportion  will  ger- 
minate, and  thus  what  quantity  per  acre  to  sow.  One  bushel 
of  a  good  sample  of  this  seed  is  sufficient  for  one  acre  of  land. 

The  leaf,  stalk  and  panicle  of  this  grass  resemble  those  of 
other  sorghums.  It  grows  on  any  land  where  corn  will  grow ;  and 
like  the  latter,  the  better  the  land,  the  heavier  the  crop.  On 
rich  land  the  culrns  attain  a  size  of  over  half  an  ii.ch  in  diame- 
ter and  a  height  of  seven  feet.  It  should  be  cut  while  tender ; 
and  then  all  live  stock  are  fond  of  it ;  for  a  few  weeks  are  suffi- 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  119 

cient  to  render  it  so  coarse  and  hard  that  animals  refuse  it,  or 
eat  sparingly. 

This  plant  is  much  more  nutritious  than  the  true  Guinea 
grass  as  will  be  seen  by  comparing  the  analyses  of  the  two  made 
by  Mr.  Collier. 

ANALYSIS  QF  SORGHUM  HALAPENSE. 

Oil,  2.25         Amylaceous  cellulose,     25.87 

Wax,  .61         Alkali  extract,  %  15.58 

Sugars,  7.37         Albuminoids,    '  13.18 

Gum  and  dextrin,  6.14         Ash,  4.85 

Cellulose,  25.15 

100.00 

ANALYSIS  OF  A*SH. 

Potassium,  3.68         Sulphuric  acid;  2.96 

Potassium  oxide,  35.72         Phosphoric  acid,  10.44 

Sodium,  .81         Silicic  acid,  22.21 

Calcium  oxide,  12.87         Chlorine,  4.58 

Magnesium  oxide,  6.73 

100.00 

A  few  testimonials  are  here  quoted  to  give  an  idea  of  the  pro- 
ductiveness and  value  of  this  plant.  In  a  letter  published  in 
the  Rural  Carolinian  for  1874,  Mr.  N.  B.  Moore,  who  had  for 
more  than  forty  years  grown  only  grass  crops,  speaks  of  this 
grass  under  the  name  of  Guinea  grass.  He  says  he  prefers  it  to 
all  others  after  having  faithfully  tried  many.  "It  is  perennial, 
is  as  nutritious  as  any  other ;  when  once  well  set,  is  difficult 
to  eradicate  ;  will  grow  on  ordinary  land  and  yields  abundantly. 

"My  meadow  consists  of  one    hundred   acres  of  alluvial  land, 

near  Angus"  a In    winter  I  employ  but  four  men,  who  are 

enough  to  work  my  packing  press ;  in  summer  when  harvesting, 
double  that  number.  In  autumn,  I  usually  scarify  both  ways  with 
sharp,  steel-toothed  harrows,  and  sow  over  the  stubble  a  peck 
of  red  clover  per  acre,  which,  with  volunteer  vetches,  comes  off 
about  the  middle  of  May.  The  second  yield  of  clover  is  uni- 
formly eaten  up  by  grasshoppers.  The  tap-root  remains  to  fer- 
tilize the  then  coming  Guinea  grass,  which  should  be  cut  from 
two  to  three  feet  high. . . .  On  such  land  as  mine,  it  will  afford 
three  or  four  cuttings  if  the  season  is  propitious.  I  use  an  av- 
erage of  five  tons  of  gypsum  soon  after  the  first  cutting,  and 
about  the  same  quantity  of  the  best  commercial  fertilizers  in 

March   or  April The  grass  which  is  cut  before  noon,  is  put 

up  with  horse  sulky  rakes,  in  cocks,  before  sundown."  * 

Mr.  Moore's  income  from  this  field  was  from  seven  thousand 
to  ten  thousand  dollars  a  year. 

Mr.  Goelzel  of  Mobile  says,  "It  is  undoubtedly  the  most  prof- 


120  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

ftable  soiling  plant  yet  introduced,  and  also  promises  to  be  the 
plant  for  our  southern  hay  stacks,  provided  it  can  be  cut  every 
three  or  four  ^reeks." 

In  the  Rural  Carolinian  for  1874,  Mr.  John  J.  Delchampes 
furnishes  the  following  facts  and  figures  : 

"I  herewith  make  out  a  resume  of  the  several  cuttings  of 
Guinea  grass  made  by  me  last  year. . . .  The  cuttings  were  made 
from  one  square  yard  of  land  accurately  measured,  and  it  was  a 
fair  average  of  the  entire  plot  in  grass. 

1st  cutting  May  16th,  weight  of  dry  hay  19th.,        2  Ibs.  8  oz. 

2nd  cutting  June  16th,  weight  of  dry  hay  23rd.,     1          1J 

3rd  cutting  July  17th,  weight  of  dry  hay  20th.,       1          7} 

4th  cutting  August  18th,  weight  of  dry  hay  30th, 

(ruined  by  rain),  0         8 

1st  September,  cut  by  a  friend  through  mistake  without 
weighing. 

5th  cutting  October  1st,  weight  of  dry  hay  8th.,      0         10 


Total ,  6         3  J 

"Reckoning  the  acre  at  4,840  square  yards,  for  convenience, 
the  result  is  over  fifteen  tons  of  dry  hay  per  acre,  twelve  days' 
growth  being  lost  by  an  accident,  and  the  season  not  a  favora- 
ble one. 

"I  dug  the  roots  from  the  same  square  yard  of  ground  in  Jan- 
uary and  the  weight  was  2  Ibs.,  10  oz.,  equal  to  6.45  tons  per 
acre.  Hogs  devour  these  roots  as  eagerly  as  they  do  sweet  po- 
tatoes. Six  and  a  half  tons  of  hog  feed  and  fifteen  tons  of 
good  hay  I  should  regard  as  a  very  good  result  from  one  acre 
of  land.  It  may  be  well  to  add  that  on  the  square  yard  of 
ground  from  which  I  dug  the  roots,  the  grass  is  as  thick  now 
as  on  any  other  part  of  the  plot." 

Two  pounds  aad  a  half  of  dry  hay  per  square  yard  shows  Mr. 
Delchampes7  first  cutting  to  have  given  him  12,000  pounds. 
Well  may  another  writer  exclaim  :  "If  you  want  grass — -a  grass 
— the  grass — and  have  rich  land — this  is  just  the  thing  to  fill 
the  bill." 

If  a  farmer  want  his  land  for  other  crops,  he  should  not  plant 
this  grass.  But  if  he  want  a  grass  field  to  continue,  indefinitely 
and  to  yield  heavy  crops  year  after  year  without  resetting  this 
is  the  best  thing  he  can  plant. 

With  the  ground  rich  and  in  good  condition  and  warm,  a 
bushel  of  good  seed  broadcast  in  April  will  take  possession  and 
keep  down  other  plants.  Without  these  conditions,  the  seed 
should  be  sown  in  drills  sufficiently  far  apart  to  admit  of  culti- 
vation once  or  twice.  Or  if  roots  be  used,  the  pieces  should  be 
placed  one  or  two  feet  apart  in  the  rows,  and  the  latter  two  feet 
apart,  so  as  to  allow  cultivation.  In  either  case  the  plants  will 
soon  have  and  hold  possession.  The  seed  may  be  sown  also  in 
August  «r  September, 


9 

AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  121 

In  south-west  Mississippi  where  this  grass  was  planted  more 
than  fifty  years  ago,  where  the  fields  were  vacated  during  and 
after  the  civil  war,  it  disappeared,  except  in  spots  inac- 
cessible to  stock.  It  shows  little  tendency  to  spread  much,  and 
some  planters  of  longest  experience,  consider  it  not  "very 
troublesome  in  cultivated  fields.  Poor  cultivation,  however, 
only  spreads  and  multiplies  it. 

Since  writing  this  account  of  Johnson  Grass,  the  following 
letter  has  been  received  :  .. 

ALABAMA  HAY  FARMS,         } 
MARION  JUNCTION,  DALLIS  Go.  ALA.,  v 
July  20th,  1880.      j 
D.  L.  PHARES,  ESQ., 

MY  DEAR  SIR: — Your  favor  of  the  2d  inst.,  asking  me  to 
write  you  my  experience  with,  and  knowledge  of  the  Johnson 
Grass,  came  duly  to  hand.  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  respond  to 
your  wishes,  and  through  your  proposed  work  on  Grasses,  to 
give  the  farmers  of  the  United  States,  a  knowledge  of  this  grass 
which  I  consider  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list  of  grasses  for  this 
country,  especially  the  southern  part  of  it.  After  an  experience 
of  five  years  in  raising  it  and  shipping  the  hay  made  from  it,  my 
earliest  opinion  of  it  is  more  than  confirmed,  its  value  as  both 
a  grazing  and  hay  grass  not  being  equaled  by  any. other  in  this 
country.  It  belongs  to  the  Sorghum  family,  bearing  a  close  re- 
semblance to  chicken  corn  in  its  stalk  and  seed.  It  is  perennial, 
of  rapid  growth,  containing  much  saccharine  matter,  very  nutri- 
tious and  eagerly  sought  after  by  stock  of  all  kinds. 

It  is  not  a  new  grass  as  supposed  by  many,  but  only  of  late 
years  made  available  as  a  grass  for  hay.  It  has  been  upon  this 
farm,  (the  Johnson  place)  for  nearly  forty  years.  The  most  re- 
liable history  I  can  obtain  of  it  is  this  :  Gov.  Means  of  South 
Carolina  obtained  some  of  the  seed  from  Turkey  as  early  as  1835 
where  it  was  called  Guinea  grass.  He  planted  it  on  his  planta- 
tion, where  it  is  still  called  Means  grass.  In  1840  or  45,  Wm. 
Johnson  of  this  place  being  in  South  Carolina,  brought  some  of 
the  seed  with  him  and  sowed  upon  his  farm  here,  whence  it  de- 
rived the  name  of  Johnson  grass,  by  which  it  is  now  most  com- 
monly known.  The  botanical  name  is  Sorghum  halapense, 
while  the  Guinea  grass  grown  in  Jamaica  is  known  as  Panicum 
jumentorum. 

The  Johnson  grass  is  of  rapid  growth,  springs  up  early  in  the 
spring,  and  continues  growing  until  frost,  being  less  affected  by 
drought  than  other  grasses.  It  is  propa'gated  by  both  roots  and 
seed,  the  foi  mer  penetrating  to  the  depth  of  three  or  four  feet, 
reaching  the  moisture,  which  is  so  essential  for  grass  culture. 
On  good  soil  the  yield  is  from  one  to  two  tons  to  the  acre  and 
can  be  cut  three  times  during  the  summer.  With  fertilizing, 
the  yield  could  be  largely  increased,  and  one  more  cutting  per 


122  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GEASSES 

/ ' 

annum.  On  this  place  I  sowed  this  season  a  crop  of  oats,  which 
but  for  the  rust  could  have  been  cut  in  June.  I  have  already 
cut  from  a  portion  two  crops  of  hay  and  will  cut  another  in 
Sept.,  making  four  crops  from  same  ground  in  one  summer. 

The  proper  time  for  cutting  for  hay  is  just  as  the  grass  comes 
into  bloom,  when  24  to  30  inches  high.  If  left  to  grow  larger 
it  becomes  woody,  and  not  so  good  for  hay. 

The  usual  quantity  sown  to  the  acre,  is  one  bushel  sown  in 
September  or  October,  or  early  spring,  when  sown  in  the  early 
fall,  it  gets  good  root  and  will  give  two  good  cuttings  the  first 
season.  The  richer  the  soil  the  greater  the  yield.  While  grass 
may  be  enemy  to  cotton  raising,  it  has  proved  to  be  much  'more 
profitable  than  cotton.  It  is  not  as  hard  to  get  rid  of  as  many 
suppose.  A  neighbor  here  in  August  and  September,  1878, 
broke  up  some  15  acres  which  he  has  for  two  years  successfully 
planted  in  cotton,  with  no  trouble  from  the  grass. 

Thousands  of  acres  of  land  are  yearly  lying  idle,  which  are  worn 
out  for  cotton  and  corn,  containing  all  the  essentials  for  a  crop 
of  grass  or  graiii.  A  field  often  acres  of  this  grass  would  keep 
the  work  stock  in  excellent  condition,  and  save  largely  in  the 
consumption  of  corn. 

If  one  half  of  the  land  now  in  cotton  were  in  grass,  more 
money  could  be  made  than  is  now  made  in  cotton.  The  value 
of  grass  culture  is  well  stated  in  the  old  English  proverb,  "no 

frass,  no  cattle ;  no  cattle,  no  manure  ;  no  manure,  no  grass." 
o  better  stock  country  than  the  south  can  be  found,  taking  all 
things  into  consideration;  where  one  kind  of  grass  may  fail, 
there  are  others  which  will  succeed.  _  In  this  Johnson  grass,  a 
kind  Providence  has  given  the  south  a  mine  of  wealth,  which 
conld  easily  be  made  a  foundation  for  wealth  and  prosperity  such 
as  the  south  has  never  seen. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  call  attention  to  the  man- 
ner of  putting  in  grasses.  Frequently  the  seeds  are  sown  too 
deeply,  thereby  losing  the  seed  and  blaming  the  seedsman.  Ex- 
perience shows  the  necessity  of  plowing  the  ground  thoroughly. 
Then  with  a  good  harrow  pulverize  the  soil,  making  a  good 
seed  bed.  Sow  one  bushel  of  Johnson  grass  seed  per  acre,  and 
brush  it  in,  covering  lightly.  If -preferable  use  a  roller  which 
will  not  cover  as  deeply  perhaps,  as  a  brush.  The  roller  also 
prepares  the  ground  for  the  mower. 

Experience  tells  me  that  I  cannot  too  highly  reccommend  the 
Johnson  grass.  *  *  * 

Lain  truly  yours, 

HERBERT  POST. 
Mr.  Post  does  not  overdraw  the  yield  or  value  of  this  grass. 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          123 

By  scarifying  and  applying  fertilizers  his  crops  would  be  very 
much  heavier,  but  perhaps  not  so  choice  from  being  coarser. 

EUOHLCENA  LUXURIANS,  Teosinte,  or  Guatemala  Grass. 

Within  a  few  years  this  large  and  very  beautiful  tropical 
grass  has  been  introduced  into  the  south  of  France,  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Kew,  England,  and  thence  into  the  East  and  West 
Indies,  Australia,  Tropical  and  South  Africa,  Cyprus,  the  Ba- 
hamas etc.,  and  later  into  various  parts  of  the  United  States. 

It  is  specially  interesting  as  allied  to,  and  in  some  respects 
closely  resembling  Indian  corn.  It  has  the  male  flowers  in  a 
tassel  at  the  top  of  the  stalk,  and  pistillate  at  the  joints  like 
corn,  the  latter,  or  the  seed  inclosed  in  a  loose  involucre  and  ar- 
ranged on  a  slendei  spike,  as  wa  sometimes  see  also  in  the  In- 
dian corn  ;  though  the  now  recognized  normal  arrangement  of  the 
latter  seems  to  be  in  lines  on  a  cob  as  though  the  many  single 
slender  spikes  were  consolidated  into  a  large  compound  one; 
yet  so  often  found  variously  forked  or  branched  and  many 
spiked  (and  we  have  seen  one  variety  with  every  grain  enclosed 
in  its  own  separate  shuck  or  husk),  as  to  suggest  a  tendency  to 
return  to  an  earlier  arrangement  more  in  harmony  with  teosinte. 
It  tillers  enormously ;  and  in  one  or  more  varieties  of  Indian 
corn  we  find  a  decidedly  singular  tendency,  though  not  so 
strongly  manifested. 

It  has  many  large  blades  and  the  stalks  grow  from  six  to  fif- 
teen feet  high.  Experiments  made  by  the  chemist  of  the  Dept. 
of  Agriculture  show  that  the  stalks  contain  a  large  quantity  of 
sugar. 

Prof.  Asa  Gray,  in  the  American  Agriculturist  for  August, 
1880,  speaking  'of  this  plant,  writes  :  "The  Director  of  the  Bo- 
tanic Garden  and  Government  Plantations  at  Adelaide,  S.  Aus- 
tralia, reports  favorably  of  this  strong  growing,  corn-like  forage 
plant,  the  EuchlcEna  luxurians ;  that  the  prevailing  dryness  did 
not  injure  the  plants,  which  preserved  their  healthy  green, 
vrhile  the  blades  of  the  other  grasses  suffered  materially.  The 
habit  of  throwing  out  young  shoots  is  remarkable,  60  or  80  ri- 
sing to  a  height  of  5  or  6  feet.  Further  north,  at  Palmerston, 
(nearer  the  equator),  in  th'e  course  of  5  or  6  months,  the  plant 
reached  the  height  of  twelve  to  fourteen  feet,  and  the  stems  on 
one  plant  numbered  56.  The  plants,  after  mowing  down,  grew 
again  several  feet  in  a  few  days.  The  cattle  delight  in  it  in  a 
fresh  state  ;  also  when  dry.  Undoubtedly  there  is  not  a  more 
prolific  forage  plant  known  ;  but,  as  it  is  essentially  tropical  in 
its  habits,  this  luxuriant  growth  is  found,  in  tropical  or  subtrop- 
ical climates.  The  chief  drawback  to  its  culture  with  us  will 
be  that  the  ripening  of  the  seed  crop  will  be  problematical,  as 
early  frosts  will  kill  the  plant.  To  make  the  Teosinte  a  most 
useful  plant  in  Texas  and  along  our  whole  south-western  bor- 


124  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

der,  the  one  thing  needful  is  to  develop  early  flowering  varie- 
ties, so  as  to  get  seed  before  frost.  And  thi£  could  be  done 
without  doubt,  if  some  one  in  Texas  or  Florida  would  set  about 
it.  What  it  has  taken  ages  to  do  in  the  case  of  Indian  corn,  in 
an  unconcious  way,  might  be  mainly  done  in  a  human  life-time 
by  rightly  directed  care  and  vigorous  selection.  Who  is  the 
man  .who  is  going  to  make  millions  of  blades  of  grass  grow 
where  none  of  any  account  ever  grew  before  ?  " 

In  the  southern  cultivator  for  October,  1879,  a  writer  from 
Milledgeville,-  Ga.,  under  date  of  Sept.  7th.,  1879,  says  that 
from  a  few  seeds  planted  March  20th.  he  saved  one  plant,  which 
"from  a  small,  almost  triangular  seed  has  developed  a  plant  now 
9  feet  high  and  4  feet  in  diameter,  with  something  over  80 
stalks,  and  which  no  cow  in  the  State  could  consume  at  a  sin- 
gle meal.  It  tillers  from  the  very  start,  spreading  horizontally 
for  some  weeks  before  beginning  a  perpendicular  growth/'  It 
showed  ito  signs  of  blooming;  and  six  plants  obtained  from  seed 
planted  in  June  would  not  attain  one-third  the  size  of  this  by 
frost. 

On  16th.  July,  1880,  Mr.  A.  Wikas  at  the  Menelas  farm, 
Brookhaven,  Miss.,  writes  me:  "We  planted  in  March,  April 
and  May,  2  and  3  feet  apart  each  way  in  hills,  and  it  grows 
equally  well,  The.  leaves  resemble  very  much  those  of  corn, 
and  while  at  first  it  comes  only  a  stalk,  it  shoots  afterwards  and 
multiplies  from  25  to  50.  We  think  it  can  be  cut  3  or  4  times 
when  2J  to  3  feet  high.  We  planted  the  first  on  the  5th.  of 
March  and  although  it  is  now  about  6  feet  high,  yet  there  is  no 
sign  of  blooming." 

A  part  of  this  crop  was  not  cut ;  but  after  blooming,  when  12 
to  15  feet  high,  was  killed  by  frost.  It  was  in  this  condition 
when  I  saw  it.  The  stems  were  as  large  as  those  nf  maize, 
blades  and  tassel  all  so  like  those  of  latter  that  the  one  plant 
might  be  easily  mistaken  for  the  other.  I  am  convinced  that 
seeds  of  the  teosinte  can  be  matured  in  parts  of  Texas  and  Flor- 
ida and  also  with  little  protection,  in  south  Mississippi,  Louisi- 
ana and  Alabama.  It  has  a  large  number  of  large,  long,  strong 
fibrous  roots  penetrating  the  soil  deeply, 

On  land  well  adapted  to  it,  I.  think  it  would  not  be  difficult 
to  produce  one  hundred  tons  per  acre.  And  as  it  contains  a 
large  per  centage  of  sugar  besides  other  nutrients,  it  may  be 
made  one  of  the  very  best,  most  profitable  and  desirable  crops 
in  the  southern  States  for  ensilage. 

ZEA. 

Z.  MAYS.  Indian  Corn,  Maize.  Well  may  this  plant  be  call- 
ed zea,  LIFE;  since  it  has  become  so  essential  and  so  large  an 
element  in  sustaining  the  lives  of  men,  beasts  and  birds,  domes- 


AND  OTHER  .FORAGE  PLANTS.  125 

tieated  and  wild,  besides  hosts  of  insects  feeding  on  the  roots, 
stem,  pith,  leaves,  blossoms  and  seed  green  and  ripe.  Where 
can  another  plant  be  found  feeding  and  keeping  alive  such  a 
number  of  genera,  species,  tribes  and  hosts  of  living  creatures? 
Annually  it  is  adapting  itself  to  other  localities  and  seems 
destined  to  become  almost  cosmopolitan  and  thus  the  ustaif  of 
life"  to  numerous  other  tribes  of  living  beings ! !  Yet  what 
countless  millions  of  dollars  are  annually  sent  from  Europe  and 
from  our  own  southern  States  for  the  purchase  of  this  cheap  sup- 
porter of  life  !!!  What  the  depth  of  dependence  and  poverty  in- 
to which  the  southern  States  are  voluntarily  plunging  them- 
selves, by  skimming  away  the  essence  of  the  soil  and  pouring 
their  hard  earnings  in  golden  streams  into  the  coffers  of  the 
western  corn  growers ! 

The  varieties  of  corn  almost  numberless  adapting  it  to  all 
soils  and  many  climates  and  to  many  special  purposes,  and  the 
modes  of  culture  are  so  varied  by  differences  of  soil,  climate  and 
objects,  that  our  space  will  not  admit  of  their  discussion.  Nor 
can  we  consider  in  detail  the  valuable  medicines  furnished  by 
this  plant,  nor  the  virulent  poisons  developed  upon  and  from 
the  grain. 

Whether  corn  be  planted  for  the  grain  or  for  fodder,  in  rows, 
drilled,  checks  or  broadcast,  th*1  land  should  first  be  broken 
very  deeply,  but  without  turning  up  much  clay.  It  should 
have  repeated  plowings  and  harrowings  if  necessary  to  put  the 
ground  in  a  light,  mellow  condition.  Planted  on- land  so  pre- 
pared, a  crop  may  be  made  almost  without  any  rain  ;  each  stalk, 
not  too  much  crowded,  throwing  out  innumerable  fibrous  roots 
with  an  aggregate  length  of  many  thousand  feet,  and  (where  un- 
der the  well  prepared  soil  the  sub-soil  can  be  penetrated)  to  a 
depth  of  several  feet  beyond  that  generally  imagined. 

In  one  neighborhood  this  year,  (1881),  a  crop  of  corn  planted 
on  very  old  land  prepared  as  above  described  has  yielded  four 
times  as  much  as  any  other  in  the  whole  region.  This  was 
planted  later  than  other  fields  and  never  had  rain  to  lay  the 
dust ;  wrhile  others  having  an  earlier  start  and  some  of  them 
plenty  of  rain  have  yielded  very  little.  Most  of  the  labor  re- 
quired for  making  a  good  crop  of  corn  on  old  land  in  the  south, 
should  be  expended  before  planting.  With  such  preparation 
the  plants  grow  rapidly  and  need  much  less  work ;  and  often 
make  a  large  yield  with  no  labor  after  planting.  Employing 
this  mode  of  preparation,  since  185],  I  am  convinced  that  in 
most  parts  of  the  south  a  fair  corn  crop  can  be  made  every  year 
whether  there  be  rain  or  not,  on  clay  soils. 

No  other  plant  is  so  much  and  so  generally  used  in  the  south- 
ern States  for  forage — avast  number  of  planters  depending  sole- 
ly upon  corn,  stalk,  blade,  husk,  (or  shuck),  grain  and  even  cob; 


.i'-iti  FARMER'S,  BOOK  OF,  GRASSES 

all  containing  much  nutrition.  The  fodder  of  blades  and  the 
ears  are  very  convenient  for  feeding,  and  the  green  plant  is  one 
of  the  best  for  ensilage. 

Coix. 

C.  LACRYMA.  Job's  Tears,  Corn  Beads. 

This  plant  is  cultivated  to  a  limited  extent ;  but  it  has  no 
agricultural  value,  notwithstanding  its  branching  stems  and 
broad  leaves.  Its  fruit  is  interesting,  consisting  of  a  fertile 
spikelet  enclosed  in  a  consolidated  involucre  which  becomes  os- 
sified, very  hard,  polished  and  perforated  so  as  to  be  used  for 
beads.  And  this  is  about  the  only  use  found  for  it ;  for  these 
beads  are  too  bone-  or  horn-like  and  indigestible  to  serve  as  food. 

CHAPTER  X.' 
Miscellaneous . 


A  few  other  forage  plants,  omitted  in  their  regular  order  as 
little  cultivated  in  the  southern  States,  yet  too  important  to  ig- 
nore wholly,  are  briefly  mentioned  here.  The  several  species  of 
mustard,  (Sinapis),  are  worthy  of  some  care  as  stock-food.  The 
several  species  of  Brassica  with  its  many  varieties  of  turnips, 
cale,  ruta-baga,  cabbage,  cauliflower,  broccoli  etc.  are  very  val- 
uable, as  are  also  the  various  beets  and  magelwurtzels.  The 
leaves  of  all  these  plants  are  relished  by  live  stock  as  are  also 
the  fleshy  roots.  They  are  valuable  at  all  times  but  especially 
in  the  winter,  when  succulent  food  is  so  much  needed  by  live 
stock.  Immense  crops  of  these  fleshy  roots  may  be  produced 
on  a  single  acre  of  land  and  they  are  not  difficult  to  preserve 
during  winter. 

COTTON  SEED. 

This  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  nutrients  produced  on  any 
farm,  demands  a  paragraph.  It  is  very  valuable  in  the  crude 
state  as  it  falls  from  the  gin-stand,  for  feeding  cows,  sheep  and 
swine.  Five  or  ten  cents  worth  with  a  little  hay  or  grazing 
will  keep  a  large  sheep  in  fine  condition  all  winter.  A  few 
serve  to  keep  hogs  in  good  condition  at  all  times. 

In  feeding  they  should  be  scattered  thinly  on  the  ground  or 
mixed  with'  other  feed  to  prevent  the  animal  taking  too  large 
quantity  in  the  mouth  and  endangering  choking.  They  may  be 
wetted,  and  better  boiled  for  hogs ;  but  never  rotted.  Mules 
sometimes  take  to  them  and  continue  in  good  condition.  De- 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          127 

corticated,  they  are  still  better  for  all  animals.  The  cake  after 
expressing  the  oil  is  not  surpassed  as  a  feed  for  sheep,  hogs,  cat- 
tle, horses  and  mules,  by  any  thing  else.  Being  concentrated 
food  it  must  be  fed  with  discretion  and  mixed  with  abundance 
of  coarser  foods  as  grasses,  hays  and  matters  containing  little 
nutrition.  It  is  far  more  valuable  than  Indian  corn. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Flatting. 


It  had  long  been  believed  both  North  and  South  that  the  "ar- 
tificial" or  cultivated  grasses  and  clovers  could  not  be  induced 
to  grow  here.  There  never  was  a  greater  mistake;  for  most  of 
them  grow  spontaneously  in  the  South  where  partially  protect- 
ed, and  some  of  them  without  any  protection  against  stock.  It 
has  been  to  the  interest  of  western  farmers  to  teach  that 
the  grasses  could  not  be  grown  here.  The'  ill  success  of  many 
southern  planters  in  their  feeble  attempts  to  grow  them  confirm- 
ed the  opinion.  Now,  many  of  these  men  did  not  deserve  suc- 
cess. The  plow  is  started  and  the  sod  set  up  edgewise  like  the 
folds  of  a  palm  leaf.  The  seeds  (very  small,  some  of  them  al- 
most microscopic),  are  sown  .and  a  harrow  run  over  the  ground. 
Most  of  the  seed  are  covered  too  deep  to  ever  germinate.  The 
few  that  sprout,  find  it  difficult  to  live  among  the  clods  and  fi- 
nally die  out ;  smothered  by  weeds  on  the  richer  spots  and 
starved  on  the  poorer. 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  LAND. 

No  one  should  plant  grasses  and  clovers,  unless  he  determines 
to  do  it  right.  The  ground  must  be  plowed  and  harrowed,  and 
the  process  repeated  as  many  times  as  may  be  necessary  to  put 
the  surface  and  sub-soil  in  proper  condition.  The  subsoil  should 
be  broken  and  loosened  ;  the  deeper  the  better,  but  not  turned 
up,  The  surface  of  the  ground  should  be  finely  comminuted 
and  smoothed.  If  too  light,  the  roller  should  be  used  for  com- 
pacting. When  the  ground  is  properly  prepared,  it  should  be 
very  lightly  marked  off  in  lands  of  such  width  as  may  be  con- 
venient to  sow.  For  an  acre  so  laid  off,  take  the  proper  quanti- 
ty of  seed,  divide  into  as  many  parcels  as  lands :  then  sub-di- 
vide each  parcel  into  two  equal  parts.  With  one  of  the  smaller 
parcels,  proceed  from  one  end  to  the  other  of  the  land,  sowing ; 
then  returning  over  the  same  land,  SOAV  the  other  half;  and  so 
on  throughout  the  entire  field.  Thus  an  equal  distribution  of 
seed  may  be  effected  and  an  even  stand  of  plants  obtained. 


128  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

Grass  seed  should  never  be  sown  while  the  wind  blows ;  but 
if  this  cannot  be  avoided,  the  next  best  thii;g  to  do,  is  to  travel 
with  the  wind  in  sowing.  But  even  this  can  never  give  an 
even  or  tolerably  satisfactory  distribution  of  seed. 

After  sowing  the  seed  never  use  harrow,  or  brush  or  other  de- 
vice, for  covering.  In  some  cases  the  roller  may  be  used  ;  but 
it  is  seldom  needed.  I  have  tried  all  the  methods ;  and  I  have 
had  best  success  by  leaving  the  seed  to  be  beaten  in  sufficiently 
by  rain.  My  best  success  with  blup  grass  has  been  on  unbroken 
ground,  the  leaves  only  raked  away  and  leaving  a  rather  smooth 
surface. 

Once  I  burned  of!  leaves  and  trash  from  a  wooded  lot  and 
immediately  sowed  blue  grass  seed  in  March.  They  came  up 
very  promptly  ;  and  in  a  few  months  the  grass  had  attained  a 
larger  growth  than  I  had  ever  before  seen  at  two  years  old. 

SIZE  OF  SEEDS  AND  DEPTH  OF  COVERING. 

In  order  to  understand  clearly  the  danger  of  harrowing  in 
grass  seeds,  let  a  few  things  be  considered  touching  some  of  the 
lust  known  forage  plants.  Red  clover  has  256,000  seed  to  the 
pound,  English  blue  grass  or  meadow  fescue  400,000  and  Tall 
oat  grass  340,000 ;  these  small  seeds  germinate  badly  if  buried 
•deeper  than  a  half  inch  in  the  lightest,  fine  soil.  White  clover 
with  500,000  seed  to  the  pound,  and  Orchard  grass  with 
640,000  find  it  difficult  to  get  up  when  covered  one-fourth  of 
an  inch.  What  then  shall  be  the  depth  of  covering  for  Timo- 
thy seed  of  1,184,000  to  the  pound,  Soft  meadow,  or  velvet 
grass  with  1,500,000,  Red  top  with  6,800,000  and  White  top. 
with  8,000,000  seeds  to  the  pound  ?  From  these  statements 
the  utility — the  necessity  of  the  roller  preceding  on  loose  soil 
the  sowing  of  light,  minute  seeds  will  at  once  be  appreciated, 
as  also  the  danger  of  harrow  or  brush  after  sowing.  With  a 
heavy,  badly  prepared  soil  the  danger  from  the  harrow  is  much 
enhanced ;  for  covering  these  seeds  one-fourth  or  one-half  inch 
deeper  than  above  mentioned  the  bulk  of  them  never  germin- 
ate. The  failuies  from  too  deep  covering  are  frequent  and  lead 
to  unjust  suspicions  and  charges  against  seedsmen. 

THE  TIME  TO  SOW 

must  be  determined  by  each  one's  own  judgement.  The  or- 
chard, red  top,  blue,  timothy,  velvet  and  Italian  rye  grasses 
may  be  sown  any  time  from  the  first  of  September  till  the 
middle  of  March  with  success,  or  again  with  total  failure. 
Each  must  be  governed  as  to  time  of  sowing  by  telluric  and  at- 
mospheric conditions.  It  is  worse  than  useless  to  sow  on  a 
parched  ground,  or  during  a  drought.  If  the  ground  be  moist 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  129 

from  the  surface  down  to  perpetual  moisture,  and  there  be  a 
reasonable  prospect  of  its  continuing  so  by  rains  or  otherwise 
long  enough  for  the  seeds  to  germinate  and  take  root,  sow ;  the 
earlier  the  better.  I  have  succeeded  in  all  the  months  indicated. 
But  as  I  expected,  I  had  some  failures — not  so  many  however, 
as  I  was  prepared  to  expect.  If  one  carefully  observe  these  di- 
rections, he  will  rarely  be  disappointed  in  results. 

In  order  to  have  a  good  crop  the  first  year,  it  is  important  to 
sow  in  the  fall,  if  the  proper  conditions  concur ;  and  especially 
so  for  the  velvet  and  rye  grasses.  By  autumnal  sowing,  too, 
one  can  have  opportunity  of  seeding  in  January,  February  or 
March,  any  spots  on  which  there  may  be  a  defective  catch. 

All  that  I  have  said  in  regard  to  preparation  of  ground,  times 
and  mode  of  sowing  is  equally  applicable  to  the  Medicagos,  Mel- 
ilots  and  Trifoliums,  or  the  clover  family  ;  except  that  lucerne 
succeeds  better  by  sowing  in  drills  twelve  or  fifteen  inches  apart, 
so  that  it  can  be  cultivated  the  first  year.  It  is  difficult  to  suc- 
ceed in  any  other  way  with  lucerne.  All  these  seeds  can  be 
sown  satisfactorily  only  when  the  air  is  motionless.  For  sow- 
ing all  grass  and  clover  seeds,  small  grain  of  all  kinds,  peas,  etc., 
broadcast,  Pearce's  improved  Cahoon  hand  sower  is  a  most  ad- 
mirable implement,  very  cheap,  the  work  light  and  expeditious. 
It  is  fully  what  it  professes  to  be.  For  sowing  very  large  areas 
horse  machines  may  be  used. 

The  various  millets  and  other  larger  grains  should  be  harrow- 
ed or  rolled,  or  both  after  sowing ;  the  preceding  paragraphs 
having  reference  only  to  the  smaller  seeds,  which  often  sink  too 
deep  in  loose  land  to  get  out  even  when  not  harrowed. 

FOR  AN  ORCHARD 

I  know  no  better  combination  than  red  clover  and  orchard 
grass.  Both  fertilize  and  otherwise  improve  the  land.  The 
seeds  of  timothy  or  clover  should 

NOT  BE  MIXED 

with  those  of  grasses  before  sowing.  While  sowing,  the  heavy, 
smooth  clover  seeds  will  accumulate  at  the  bottom  of  the  con- 
tainer and  the  lighter  grass  seeds  rise  to  the  top,  so  that  parts  of 
the  field  will  show  only  grass  and  other  parts  clover  alone.  If 
possible  to  keep  them  mixed  in  the  bag,  the  same  cast  will  scat- 
ter the  clover  seed  over  ten  times  more  surface  than  the  grass 
seed  can  be  made  to  reach.-  Seeds  of  different  specific  gravity, 
size  or  smoothness,  should  not  be  mixed  together  for  sowing  ; 
but  first  one  sown,  then  another. 

TO  KEEP  DOWN  WEEDS 

in  an  orchard  use  the  mower  as  often  as  necessary,  turn  in  calves 
and  sheep  whenever  proper,  and  pigs  during  fruit  season. 
Calves  and  sheep  destroy  young  or  small  trees  and  must  not 


130  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

have  access  to  them.  These  animals  are  about  the  best  exter- 
minators of  briers,  cane  and  underbrush.  Old  hogs  sometimes 
destroy  small  fruit  trees  especially  the  plum,  by  tearing  the  bark 
with  their  teeth  in  shaking  off  the  fruit. 

WHAT  ARE  THE  BEST  GRASSES  FOR  WINTER  PASTURES? 

This  depends  on  whether  the  pasture  is  for  one  season, 
or  to  be  permanent,  as  well  as  on  location,  soil,  drainage,  etc. 
For  a  single  winter,  the  testimony,  so  far  as  known  to  me,  is 
unanimous  in  strong  commendation  of  our  native  wild  brome 
grass,  (Bromus  unioloides).  Many  however,  speak  from  a 
single  experiment,  and  with  little  or  no  knowledge  of  other 
grasses.  So  that  we  must  accept  these  statements  with  due  re- 
serve and  caution.  Two  winters  it  gave  me  luxuriant,  tender 
grazing  from  October  till  April  or  May  ;  but  next  winter  it  was 
three  months  later,  not  coming  up  till  November,  and  not  ready 
for  grazing  till  the  middle  of  January.  Others  inform  me  that 
seed  grown  here  do  not  germinate  till  November,  and  that  for 
early  fall  pastures,  seed  must  be  imported  annually  from  South- 
ern 'Europe,  .but  this  I  know  is  not  necessarily  so ;  for  it  is  in- 
digenous in  our  southern  States,  and  I  have  seen  good  grazing 
early  in  October  from  native  seed.  It  depends  on  character  of 
the  season. 

Several  other  plants  furnish  good  winter  pasture,  but  none 
are  so  valuable  as  barley.  I  have  year  after  year  sown  wheat, 
oats,  rye  barley,  etc.,  side  by  side,  lor  winter  pasture ;  and  20 
years  ago  I  reached  the  conclusion,  that  barley  was 'more  valuable 
than  all  others.  It  affords  grazing  earlier,  more  abundantly, 
grows  sooner  and  more  rapidly  after  being  grazed  down,  is  more 
relished  by  stock  and  more  wholesome.  It  does  not  lie  on  the 
ground  like  rye,  but  stands  up ;  so  that  stock  eat  less  sand,  dirt 
and  other  unwholesome  matters  in  grazing  it.  With  me,  when 
all  other  kinds  of  grain  were  destroyed  by  rust,  it  was  never  af- 
fected by  that  or  any  other  disease,  or  contingency  of  weather. 

It  is  gratifying  to  see  in  the  Southern  Cultivator,  from  the 
pen  of  its  experienced,  cautious  and  very  able  editor,  a  like  es- 
timate of  the  value  of  barley  for  winter  pasture;  sown  in  Au- 
gust or  September,  it  affords  good  grazing  from  October  till 
May.  If  stock  are  taken  off  in  March,  a  good  crop  of  seed  may 
be  harvested ;  or  if  not  all  desired  for  seed,  swine  may  be  turn- 
ed on  it,  and  for  a  month  or  two,  probably  nothing  could  bene- 
fit them  more.  Sow  three  bushels  per  acre. 

FOR  PERMANENT    PASTURES, 

a  mixture  is    necessary,  and  a  few  mixtures  are    here  given  as 
samples ;  but  they  may  be  much  varied  : 


AND  OTHER  FOE  AGE  PLANTS.  131 

1.  On    marshy  lands;   Red  top   6  Ibs.,  Tall  fescue  8,    Fowl 
meadow  10,  Rough   stalked  meadow   7,  Reed  Canary   4,  White 
clover  8,  and  probably  our  native  Canary. 

2.  For  rich   dry   creek  bottom  or  cotton  land  ;    Orchard  8, 
Meadow  fescue  3,  Hard  fescue  4,  Perennial  rye  grass  7,  Italian 
rye  grass  5,  Tall  oat  grass  4,  Yellow  oat  grass  3,  Sweet  scented 
vernal  3,  Rough  stalked  meado^  3,  Red  clover  3,  White  clover 

3,  Blue  grass  4. 

3.  On  hill  side,  and  specially  if  sandy  or  gravelly ;  Orchard 
8,  Sweet  scented  vernal  12,  Tall  oat  grass  7,  Downy  oat  grass  5, 
Yellow  oat  grass  5,  Hard  fescue  5,  Red  top  10. 

4.  For  loamy  hill  top  or  table   land ;  Orchard  8,  Kentucky 
blue  grass    5,   Meadow  fescue  3,  Perennial  rye  grass  5,   Italian 
rye  grass  5,  Red  top  2,  Tall  oat  grass  3,  Sweet  scented  vernal  3, 
Red  clover  4,  White  clover  5. 

5.  For  open  woods  with  good  soil ;  Kentucky  blue  grass  5, 
Orchard  8,  Hard    fescue  5,  Nodding   fescue    5,  Rough  stalked 
meadow  5,  Wood  meadow  5,  Sweet  scented  vernal  3,  Red  clover 

4,  White  clover  4. 

6.  Another  mixture    for  woodlands   may  consist  of  several 
species  of  fescue,  each  4,  Tall  oat  grass   4,  Yellow  oat  grass  5, 
Terrell  grass  8,  Blue  grass  5,  Orchard  grass  7  pounds. 

To  no.  1,  barn  yard  grass,  (Panicum  Crus-Galli),  may  be  ad- 
ded also  Panicum  agrostoides  and  proliferum.  To  nos.  2,  3  and 
4,  native  Paspalums  found  all  over  the  southern  States,  very 
hardy,  very  nutritious,  very  toothsome  to  stock  throughout 
summer  may  well  be  added. 

One  of  the  very  best  of  naturalized  grasses,  both  for  pasture 
and  meadow  is  the  Bermuda.  •  It  would  do  well  on  any  good 
land,  not  marshy.  I  have  seen  Red  and  White  clovers  do  well 
among  it;  and  possibly  some  of  the  grasses  named  above  might 
do  equally  as  well,  such  as  the  oat  grasses,  red  top,  or  wild  brome. 
The  quantities  given  in  above  mixtures  are  for  a  single  acre,  and 
may  seem  large,  but  to  obtain  good  pastures,  heavy  seeding  is 
absolutely  necessary,  though  expensive.  These  mixtures,  too, 
are  arranged  with  a  view  to  a  variety  and  succession  of  grasses 
throughout  the  entire  year  for  grazing. 

We  have  many  very  valuable  natural  pastures  or  commons 
well  set  with  Eleusine,  Dactyloctenium,  Panicum  sanguinale, 
anceps  and  others,  Paspalum  prsecox,  Iseve,  undulatum  and  oth- 
ers, Sporobolus,  Cynodon,  Muhlenbergias,  Andropogons  and 
other  grasses,  Corices,  etc.,  aifording  good  natural  grazing  most 
of  the  year. 

DEFECTIVE  SEEDS 

render  heavy  seeding  necessary — sometimes  from  ten  to  ninety 
per  cent,  of  the  seeds  purchased  failing  to  germinate.  It  is  wTell 
to  test  every  lot  of  seed  before  sowing,  to  ascertain  what  per 


132  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

cent-age  will  germinate,  and  to  sow  accordingly.  And  as  sec 
ing  a  large  farm  is  *Tery  expensive,  with  bought  seeds,  it  is  a  go 
plan  to  have  separate  lots,  each  with  picked  seed  of  a  sing 
grass,  for  the  purpose  of  propagating  such  sound  seeds  as 
may  wish  for  mixtures  or  other  purposes.  Thus  a  large  ai 
may  in  a  few  years  be  satisfactorily  set  in  grasses  at  moden 
cost.  Grass  seeds  should  be  carefully  examined  and  tested  t 
fore  planting  for  another  reason  ;  viz  :  they  are  often  mix 
with  seeds  of  undesirable  and  pernicious  plants.  Sometin 
they  are  manufactured  of  wood  and  other  materials  and  colort 
or  old  worthless  seeds  are  colored  to  resemble  the  fresh  or  n< 
seeds. 

MEADOWS. 

The  remarks  made  on  Bermuda  grass,  Johnson  grass,  TJ 
oat  grass,  Orchard  grass  and  Red  clover,  I  trust  will  suffice  i 
this  head.  The  paspalums  are  also  good  meadow  grasses  th 
re-seed  the  land  annually.  I  have  seen  a  valuable  meadow 
these  grasses  alone  mown  for  a  series  of  years.  The  grass  bo 
green  and  dry;  is  much  relished  by  stock,  and  very  nutritioi 
(See  pages  86-88). 

CHAPTER  -XII. 
The  Silo  €ind  JEnsila-ge. 


It  is  but  a  few  years  since  the  advent  of  these  two  words  i] 
to  American  agricultural  literature,  yet  to-day  a  work  on  Fo 
age  Plants  would  be  deemed  incomplete  without  some  men  tic 
of  them.  Silo  is  properly  a  pit  though  now  sometimes  eoi 
structed  partly,  sometimes  wholly  above  ground.  Ensilage 
the  process  of  preparing  and  preserving  green  forage  en  ^il 
that  is  by  ensilaging  or  empitting.  The  word  is  used  to  desi< 
nate  also"  the  forage  itself  so  prepared. 

THE  PROCESS. 

Maize,  being  most  frequently  used  for  making  ensilage,  ma 
be  conveniently  taken  to  illustrate  the  process.  At  a  propc 
stage  of  growth  the  whole  plants  are  cut  near  the  ground,  hau 
ed  to  the  silo,  cut  into  short  pieces,  throwned  into  the  pit  an 
tramped  down  by  men  as  thrown  in.  This  process  is  contir 
ued  till  the  pit  is  filled  and  the  cut  forage  piled  and  trampe 
far  above  the  top  of  the  silo.  Then  it  is  covered  and  heav 
weights  placed  on  top — 100  to  200  pounds  per  square  foot.  ] 
soon  shrinks  about  one-third  to  one-half  and  if  rightly  manage 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.          133 

till  all  is  within  the  silo.  The  covering  and  pit  must  be  as  near- 
ly air  tight  as  practicable.  This  is  in  few  words  the  whole  pro- 
cess of  making  ensilage. 

THE  SILO. 

This  may  be  dug  in  the  level  ground,  or  in  the  side  of  a  hill, 
and  should  be  as  near  as   possible  to  the  stalls  where  the  forage 
is  to  be  used — best  under  the  same  roof  to  prevent  exposure  of 
stock  and  men  when  feeding  in  inclement  weather  and  to  save 
carriage.     In  rock  and  some  clays,  the  silo  will  need  no  lining ; 
but  in  most  places,  the  sides  and   bottom  should  be  cemented, 
or  lined  with  plank,  or  walled   up  with  stone   or  brick.     Or  it 
may  be  made  only  partly  under  ground,  or  even  wholly  above 
by  raising  walls  sufficiently  thick   of  brick,  stone   or   concrete. 
If  above  ground  the  walls   should  be  thick    and  strong,  well 
braced  and  banked  with  earth.     The  size  will  depend  upon  the 
wishes  of  the  farmer  and  may  be  readily  calculated  by  any  one. 
Well  prepared  ensilage  will  weigh  about  45  pounds  to  the  cubic 
foot,  or  about  56  pounds  to  the  bushel ;  equal  to  about  80  bush- 
els for  every  100  cubic  feet.     So  that    a  silo  ten  feet  deep,  10 
feet  wide  and  10  feet  long  will  hold  45,000  pounds  or  22 J  tons 
or  803  bushels.     Every  foot  of  length   then  of  such  a  silo  will 
contain  80  bushels  or  2J  tons  of  matured  ensilage.     The  num- 
ber of  bushels  any  silo  contains  may  be  easily  found  by  obtain- 
ing the  number  of  cubic  feet  and  deducting  therefrom  one-fifth; 
the  remainder  denotes  the  number  of  bushels.     Thus,  if  a  silo 
contain  1,000  cubic  feet  it  holds   800  bushels;   if  70  cubic  feet 
56  bushels.     The    silo   may   be    constructed  of  logs  with  the 
spaces  well  chinked  with  clays  or  it  may  be  made  as  the  house 
described  for  sweet  potatoes   on  page  28.     But  these  methods 
are  not  so  safe.     The  ensilage,  when  the  silo  is  filled  should  be 
covered  with  a  layer  of  straw  from  six  to  fifteen  inches  in  thick- 
ness, then  with  planks  two  inches  thick  and  of  such  length  as  to 
move  down  inside  as  the    ensilage  settles.     On  the  plank  stone 
or  other  weights  should  be  placed.     In  the   south  it  would   be 
safer  to  cover  the  plank  with  ten  to  fifteen  inches  of  earth   well 
packed  ;  and  if  so  covered  the    straw  will  not  be  required.     As 
the  forage  settles,  the  earth  on  top   should  be   trodden  to  close 
fissures  and  kept  air  tight.     In  this  way  ensilage  has  kept  sonnd 
two  years. 

VALUE  OF  ENSILAGE. 

Opinions  on  this  subject  vary  considerably.  But  the  results 
of  many  carefully  conducted  experiments  show  little  or  no  loss 
of  nutritive  matter  in  changing  green  corn  into  ensilage  when 
the  corn  is  cut  fine,  or  in  lengths  of  three-eighths  of  an  inch 
and  closely  packed  so  as  to  expel  the  air  as  perfectly  as  possible. 


134  FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 

Both  chemical  analysis  and  the  results  of  feeding  confirm  this 
statement.  If  the  corn  stalks  or  other  plants  are  put  in  whole 
there  is  great  loss  ;  for  no  amount  of  practicable  pressure  can  be 
applied  sufficient  to  expel  the  air  and  prevent  much  decompo'- 
sition. 

When  the  ensilage  is  properly  prepared  feeders  contend  for 
increase  in  its  value.  And  it  is  no  doubt  much  more  valuable 
than  the  same  matter  would  be  if  dried  for  winter  and  spring 
feeding.  Jvy  using  it  animals  require  veiy  much  less  water 
than  when  fed  on  hay,  as  the  latter  contains  only  about  one-sev- 
enth as  much  water  as  the  ensilage.  The  water  in  the  ensilage 
is  warmer  than  that  in  ponds  and  streams  and  abstract  little  or 
no  heat  from  the  animal  and  thus  much  is  saved ;  while  the 
heat  absorbed  by  the  cold  water  and  out  door  air  must  be  re- 
placed by  more  carbohydrates  in  the  daily  ration  of  the  animal. 
Part  of  the  material  in  the  ensilage  is  rendered  more  digestible 
and  easier  to  assimilate  by  •  the  slight  fermentation 
which  takes  place  in  the  silo.  If  packed  as  above  directed  very 
little  air  can  remain  in  the  silo,  and  as  soon  as  the  oxygen  in 
that  is  combined  in  fermentation  with  carbon,  the  fermentation 
must  cease  both  for  want  of  oxygen,  from  the  pressure  of  the 
carbonic  acid  and  the  anti-fermentative  power  of  the  latter. 

To  be  thrifty  our  live  stock  especially  the  young  and  grow- 
ing require  succulent  food ;  and  by  means  of  ensilage  it  is  cheap- 
ly obtained.  But  corn  stalks  alone  green  or  dry  do  not  furnish 
all  the  materials  needed  by  animals  for  growth  and  fat  in  win- 
ter and  summer.  Hence  the  necessity  of  some  additional  food. 
A  good  ration  for  winter  is  for  every  500  pounds  live  weight 
20  pounds  corn  ensilage  and  3  pounds  corn  meal  or  cotton  seed 
meal  or  oil  cake  per  day.  Wheat  bran  in  small  quantity  may 
be  used  also ;  but  it  is  too  poor  to  use  to  much  advantage  with 
ensilage.  Shorts  would  be  better.  Corn,  barley,  rye  or  oats 
could  be  advantageously  used  with*  it,  the  first  two  especially. 

ENSILAGE  PLANTS. 

Green  corn  has  been  most  generally  used.  Teosinte  would 
probably  be  fully  as  valuable  and  vastly  more  productive. 
Both  these  plants,  having  large  stems  and  near  the  bottom  hard 
shells,  should  be  cut  in  pieces  not  over  three-eighths  of  inch 
long.  When  cut  too  long  the  woody  parts  often  turning  end- 
wise between  the  jaws  wound  the  gums  and  tongue  and  cause 
very  serious  damage  to  the  animals.  All  plants  for  ensilage  are 
better  cut  when  in  bloom  and  on  till  the  seeds  begin  to  glaze. 
The  southern  white  corn  has  been  extensively  and  successfully 
used  for  ensilage.  Perhaps  some  of  the  more  prolific,  softer 
shelled  kinds  would  be  better.  The  sugar  corns  are  richer  but 
smaller.  The  pea  vine,  millets,  Johnson  grass,  sweet  potato 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS.  135 

vines,  beet  tops  and  roots  and  many  other  things  would  make 
good  ensilage.  The  prickly  comfrey  might  be  made  very  use- 
ful in  eombinatien  with  pea  vines  or  corn  by  facilitating  a 
closer  packing.  But  all  should  be  cut  short  to  ensure  close 
packing. 

FEEDING. 

The  silo  should  have  movable  partitions  of  plank.  When  the 
ensilage  is  to  be  used  it  should  be  cut  from  top  to  bottom  and 
the  partition  moved  up  close  and  propped  against  the  perpen- 
dicular mass.  By  means  of  these  partitions  a  part  of  the  silo 
may  be  filled  at  one  time,  and  other  parts  later.  Attempting  to 
fill  too  great  a  length  at  once  might  cause  great  loss,  for  the  corn 
or  other  plant  must  be  cut  rapidly  and  hauled  as  fast  as  cut  and 
worked  up  without  delay  so  as  to  prevent  wilting.  It  seems  to 
do  better  to  fill  only  a  foot  or  two  a  day  than  more,  thus  giving 
time  to  settle  better. 

Excellent  machines  are  now  made  for  cutting  corn  and  other 
plants  into  thin  slices  at  the  rate  of  many  tons  a  day,  the  length 
adjustable  'fiom  a  quarter  of  an  inch  to  one  or  two  inches.  The 
expense  of  corn  ensilage  is  much  less  than  that  of  the  same 
quantity  prepared  in  any  other  way. 


136 


FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 
TABLE  I. 


Proximate  Composition  of  Agricultural  Products,  showin 
the  average  quantity  of  Water,  Ash,  Crude  Fibre,  Albuminoid 
Carbohydrates,  etc.,  compiled  from  Wolff,  Knop  and  other; 


SUBSTANCE. 

^ 

po 

1 

> 

ce 

y 

r 

c 

Q. 

9" 

cr 
? 

i 

o  5 
& 

CD 

d  rates,  Etc. 

TTl  r  

ROOTS  AND  TUBERS. 

Potato  Irish 

95. 

0. 

1. 

2. 

21.  ( 

Artichoke  Jerusalem 

80. 

0. 

1. 

2. 

15.< 

Kohl  Rabi 

88. 

1. 

1. 

2. 

7.; 

Field  Beets,  Mangold 

88.0 

0. 

O.f 

1. 

9.1 

Sugar  Beets 

81 

0 

1  3 

1  0 

15^ 

Ruta  Bagas 

870 

1  0 

1  1 

1  6 

9£ 

Carrot 

85.0 

1.0 

1.7 

1.5 

10.* 

friflnt  C"^firT*of" 

87  0 

0  8 

1  2 

1  *> 

9£ 

vTldllL    V_ydl  1  v/  v 

Turnips,  (Swede) 

91.5 

0.8 

1.0 

0.8 

5.9 

Turnips 

92.0 

0,8 

1.0 

1.1 

5.1 

Parsnip 

88.3 

0.7 

1.0 

1.6 

8.4 

Pumpkin 

94.5 

1.0 

1.0 

1.3 

2.8 

SEED!*. 

Rice 

146 

05 

09 

75 

765 

Winter  Wheat 

14.4 

2.0 

3.0 

13.0 

67.6 

Rye 

14.3 

2.0 

3.5 

11.0 

69.2 

Barley 

14.3 

2.4 

8.0 

9.0 

5.9 

Oats 

14.3 

3.0 

10.3 

2.0 

0.9 

Vlaize 

14.4 

2.1 

5.5 

0.0 

8.0 

Millet 

14.0 

3.0 

6.4 

4.5 

2.1 

Buckwheat 

14.0 

2.4 

5.0 

9.0 

9.6 

fetches 

14.3 

2.3 

6.7 

7.5 

9.2 

3eas 

14.3 

2.5 

9.2 

2.4 

2.3 

Beans 

14.5 

3.5 

1.5 

5.5 

5.5 

Dentils 

14.5 

3.0 

6.9 

3.8 

2.0 

Duping 

14.5 

3.5 

4.5 

4.5 

3.0 

J*lax  seed 

12.3 

5.0 

7.2 

0.5 

5.0 

rfcape  seed 

11.0 

3.9 

0.3 

9.4 

5.4 

lemp  seed 

12.2 

4.2 

2.1 

6.3 

5.2 

HAY. 

Meadow  hay 
Lftermath 

4.3 
4,3 

6.2 
6.5 

30.0 
24.0 

8.2 
9.5! 

1.3 
45.7 

AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS. 
TABLE  I  continued. 


137 


SUBSTANCE. 

$ 
1 

> 

s- 

/• 

H 

c 

Q. 

3" 

cr 
? 

5      > 

h— 

0 

j            £! 

3 

2.  5 

CB 

*  ^Q 

s  3  S5 

1| 

'^ 
P 

HAY  continued. 

Red  Clover,  full  blossom 

16.7 

6. 

35. 

13.4 

:29,9 

ripe 

16.7 

5. 

48. 

9. 

20.3 

White  Clover,  full  blossom 

16.7 

8. 

25. 

14. 

34,3 

Alsike  Clover,  blossom, 

16.7 

8.3 

30. 

15. 

29.2 

ripe 

16.7 

5.C 

45. 

10. 

23.1 

Lucern,  young 

16.7 

8." 

22. 

19. 

32.9 

in  blossom 

16.7 

6.4 

40.0 

14.4 

22.5 

Esparsette,  in  blossom 

16.7 

6.2 

27. 

13.3 

36.7 

Crimson  Clover     " 

16.7 

7.2 

33.8 

12.2 

30.1 

Yellow  Medick     " 

16.7 

6.0 

26.2 

14.6 

36.5 

Vetches                   " 

16.7 

8.3 

25.5 

14.2 

35.3 

Peas                         " 

16.7 

7.0 

25.2 

14.3 

36.8 

Italian  Rye  grass 

14.3 

7.8 

16.9 

8.7 

51,4 

/Timothy 

14.3 

4.5 

22.7 

9.7 

48.8 

Early  meadow  grass 

14.3 

2.4 

25.9 

10.1 

47.2 

Crested  dog's-tail 

14.3 

5.5 

22.6 

9.5 

48.0 

Soft  brome  grass 

14.3 

5.0 

31.0 

14.8 

35.0 

Orchard  grass 

14.3 

4.6 

28.9 

11.6 

40.7 

Barley  grass 

14.3 

5.3 

27.2 

9.6 

42.0 

Meadow  fox-tail 

14.3 

6.7 

29.0 

10.6 

39.5 

Tall  oat  grass 

14.3 

9.9 

29.4 

11.1 

35.3 

English  Rye  grass 

14.3 

6.5 

30.2 

10.2 

38.9 

Sweet  vernal  grass 

14.3 

5.4 

31.2 

8.9 

40.2 

Velvet  grass 

14.3 

5.5 

33.6 

9.9 

36.7 

Kentucky  blue  grass 

14.3 

5.1 

32.6 

8.9 

39.1 

Rough  meadow  grass 

14.3 

7.1 

32.6 

8.4 

37.6 

Yellow  oat  grass 

14.3 

5.9 

30.8 

6.4 

42.6 

Quaking  grass                                           14.3 

7.4 

30.3    5.2 

42.8 

Average  of  the  grasses                             1  4.3 

5.8128.7    9.5|  41.7 

138 


FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 


Val.  per  ton  as 
hay  with  14. 3  per 
cent  moisture. 


oc  o 

O]      >— -I 


CM  Tfi  OO  CO  *O  t—  CO  O  CM  »O  ^f  i—  (  OC 


1>-  CM   lO  t^  CO  O  CO  CO  CO   31  CM  !>•  OC  CO  rH  'CM  lO 
O5OCOl>-OCrflrHOOOT^THt^^O^CDCO 


al.   per  ton  of 
dry  substance. 


OC   i — i  O 
CM  CM  CM 


Nutritive    ratio. 


Tf  iO  OC  CO  CO  CO  CO  CO  £-;  O  OC  O  CO  CM  CO 

^!  CM  co  o  ^3  ct"  CM  ^  10  co  co  ^  LO  oc  oi 


Nitrogen  x  6.25,  !  ^  ^  f- 1  ^  ^.  ^ 
albuminoids. 


CM  OC  CM  (^3  CM   OC  I--  t-  C>!  i--  O   r-i   i-O  O  Ci 
<   1C  O  T-I   O  iO  O  CO  lO  »-O 


CM    T — i    rH 


i  —  I   rH   C 


Crude  fibre. 


|     CO  CM  CM   rH  CM  O  O  CM  C5  Oi  CO  ^   rH  Ci  OC  CO  O1 
rHG<lGMrHrHCMTHT--lGNIGNrHrHGMGMCMrHGM 


N  i  t  r  o  g  e  n  free 
xtract. 


CMI^OCrHi-OrHCOOTHCMCOCiCOrHrHOCM 

icoD^cot^ioidcdt^t^cNTHc^oioJtOTjH 


Fat, 


CO  OC  CO  O  CM  )C  ^  O  O  CM  CO  1^  O  O5  CO  ^  O 
^  cq  CO  CM  CO  CM  TH"  co  ^  CO  CO  CO  CM  CO*  T-H  rH  CNJ 


Ash. 


Water 


CO  CO  CO  CO  CO  CO  CO  'CO  CO  CO  C 


O  CO  CO  CO  CO  CO 


||  g 


11.! 

' 


p  - 


AND  OTHER  FORAGE  PLANTS. 


139 


CO  rt  O  CM  O  00  05  iq  rH  rH  OO/O5 
CM*  CM*  CM  CM  rH  CM  rH  CM  rH  ,rH  O  O5 


<M  CO  CC  i-O  CO  i-O  O 

CO  O  O  CC  O  -r-  t>- 


CO  CO  1C  CM 


CO  ^T  TJH  CO  CO 

rH  rH  rH  r—  I  rH 


X)  O  iO  r—  I  rH  CM  CO  I"—  Cu>  CO  Cft  CO  CO  *O  rH  C—  !>•  O  IO  L—  CO  rH  r-  1  rH  O  O  t-  in  O 

O  »q  -f<  »O  O  CO  OS  O5  GO  CO  O5  p  CO  CO  CM  CO  O  •<*  CM  O5  rH  O  t~  •<*  Oi  O5  CO  CO  O5 

CO  CO  -F  -f  -rfT  T^  S^'  TJH  CO'  ^*  of  CO*  CN  rH  «>•  O  L—  id  O  t--  r^  O*  O  O  IO  T^"  O  id  ^ 

^Hr_,r_lrHH-rHrHHrH—  IT—  irHrHTHi—  IrHrHrHrHrHrH  rHrHrHrHrHrHrH 


O   X)  t^-  t-  !>•  C^-l  J>-  1O  O  CD  wi  »O   OO  rH  L—  CM_  CO  Ci  C5  C<1  "* 

H  ^  ^  *O  CO*  1>-  »-O  QO  !>•  Oi  O  O  rH  rH  ^  CO  Tfl  O  'CO  1O  CO  »O 


CO  CC  O  'CO  Ci  X  rH 
iO  id  CO"  t—"  CO*  CO  t^ 


Hp  ^  CO  05  CO  CO  CN  05  00  O  O5  t-  CO  iO  rH  t-  00  CO  iq  GO  CO  CM  O  p  TJJ  p  §>  §  CO  CO 

rH  rH 

rH  CO  O  C5  rH  OO  OO  O  !>•  *O  O5  CO  *O  "Hr1  t^  CC  "HH  t^"  CO  CO  r-i  CC    rH  O  t~-  ^  Ol  C>;1  rH 

L~-  CO  'O  rH  O  1>~  CO  CM  CM  ""^  OO  rH  O5  rH  'T  *q  O5  CC  t~»  CO  O  t—    O  rH  rH  O5  "xH  l>-  ^ 

C*  O  1^-'  CO*  t^  ^  GO*  ^  O  CO  CO*  CO*  Tf  O1  rH  O  CO  t^  rH  CO  rH  O*    rH  0-i  rfi  rH  Ol"  O1  OS 


O  O-l  O  GO  OO  ^  O  C5  T—  I  C5  CO  D^  rH  ^  L^  ^  CO  O  O  C-l  Ift  L^  O1  CO  t—  !*O  -HH  ^>  —  •  Y}~ 
•^  -f  iO  rH  05  ^  00  CO  05  iq  »0  O  00  01  t-  r-j  C5  '^H  p  Ol  NOb-lOOTflSrHCqS 
£  O  rH  CO*  05*  1>  CM*  CO  t-'  !>•'  GO'  C<i  rJH  CO  -*  CO*  C5  GC  C5  id         00*  O  id  CC  CC  CO*  O5 
H^rjHCOrt^^rpCO^^THTtfr^^iO^^^iO^^Oq^        ^H^^^^ 


'^  OO  Ol  CO  T^  Tf  CO  "^f  ^t1  OO  !>•  CM  LQ  t>-  CO  O  »O  CO  IO  ^T  t>-  rH  IO  t-  CO  -Hri  O5  ^O  1C  t>- 
-O  iO  Tjn  rH  CO  00  05  CO  O  00  »q  rH  CO  C<J  H^  rH  ^  -*  C5  O  O  X  CO  O5  C5  t--  OO  rfi  O  CO 
:0  (M*  CM°  !M*  rH  rH  rH  CO  CO  TH  rH  (M*  CM  rH  ?1  rH  -O-'l  CN'cN  CO*  Cq  C^  CO  rH  <M*  5^  r-T  CO*  C<f  (M* 


^OOrHUOOCCCOCiCCCOCOLOOT^CNTCOCOCOCOCiiOCO'HOClOCOiOOCs 

ro  iq  GO  01  i>-  cz  cq  GO  io^  t>-  i>-  cq  t>-  iq_  o  oq  ^  co  ^  os  iq  oo  co  r-j  rH  co  01  CM  co  co 

*""*  CO* 


cocococqcococo  co  cq  co  cocococqcococqcocqcocococococococococo 

'  '       *       *  "  *       "       *       *  '       "  *       * 


I  g 


rab  gra 


*. 


S^  3  ?-' 


tD 
O 


bJO        % 
"^O          g 


W 


S      CQ 

S      O! 


&  $  coo       oc  &X 
§  SD      ^  * 


s  I. 


J 

32^      S*.fc     'g'tf-S 

aij 


140 


FARMER'S  BOOK  OF  GRASSES 


I 

COCOT^CO^CNCOrHrHrHOCOCO"Ocd<^rHi^Oi-Hi— liOCO 

CO  "CO  r-j  00  £-  C^l  00  C5  O 

>-O  O  CO-iO  ^f  ^f  »O  CO  CO  CO  O  CO  iQ  s><  1O  ^  CO  CO  CM  CO  CM  !>•  »O     £- 

G 

"H   f^  Ot>  <^^  c^)  CO  CO  CT^  ^O  ^^^  CT^J  ^3^  GT^J  r™ ^  CO  *-O  CO  C^l  G^  OO  CO  *^^ 

H 

(73 

»-o  ^t1  oc  T— i  to  ^oo  o  co  ^  o  i^-  o  o  o  ^r1  o  o  co  i>-  o  oo  i>-  KI    - 

COCOC^lG^C^O'CiOOiOliOCiCi  T^^OO  Oi<iDCOi— I  !>•  Oi  T-H  iO 

1   •, 

o 

33 

o 
o 

(7Qi^C<IC^(^(>IC^C^CN<NrHC^COC^C^<^C<l^<N<>IC<l^ 

06  o  co  co"  CM"  i>^  co  id" 

!H 

^_i  Q 

* '  '    "  o 

~z  CN  oo  oo  O  »^  CC'  c'J  T— i  r-i  O  oo-  •->»  O  co  O  oo  co  co  i^  r-  :Jo"  O 

^  CN|  t^  Ol  O  CO  CO   O  'N   rH  O  O  ^  **  O  r>  O  !>;  r-i  OO  OO  f>]  Oj    ^ 

N-  1^-  !>•  CO  CO  "^  CO  C^'  O^  OO  CO  ""^  ^  C1"^  ("^  O  ^  '-^  '-^  *-O  "^   "^    1 

' II 

cocococococococococococococococococooococococo    ^  •  — 

- 1 
gl 

r>   ^u  •  -S 

be  x   o  iJO 

C3     o  :I2  r_ 

^_oS2         -%  &C        ti_Qc;  "'D 


>    82 


^        * 


f|  Sf  g-    -B  f.g     |     •§.§  g.J.^fe>^ 

^^15^      ^    -  «H      Q      ^5S-5^Hffi 


INDEX. 


141 


NAME. 


INDEX  uF  SYSTEMATIC  NAMES. 

PAGB.  NAME. 


Achillea  millefolia  20 

.  Agrostis  vulgaris  40 

alba  4Q 

perennans  40 

elata  (ciigpar)  40 

sea bra  40 

stoloniferera 

var.  latifolia  41 

linearis  41 

Aira  flexuosa  78 

ctespitosa  78 

Alopecurus  geniculatus 

pratensis 
Ampliicarpum    Purshii 

Fioridanum 
Andropogoii  Virginicus 

macrourus  112 

Elliottii  112 

scoparius  112 

nielanocarpus  112 
Anthoxanthum  odoratum 
Arachis  hypogsea 

Arrbenatherum  avenaccum  ov 
Arundinaria  ginantea  (macrosperma)  69 


Eragrostis  reptans 

poseoides  ,  var. 
megastacliia 
pilosa 
Purshii 
conferta 
tenuis 
capillaris" 
pectinacea"4 
" 


tecta 
Astragalus 
A  vena  pratenis 
flavesceus 
striata 
prsecox 
sativa 
elatior  L. 
Batatus  edulis 
Boehmeria  nivea 
Bouteloua  hirsuta 
Brassica 

Brpmus  unioloides 
bt^raderi     \VTi2denowii 
carinatus 
secalinus 
racemosus 

ciliatus  var.  pnrgans 
Kalmi, 

Buchloa  dactyloides 
Calamagrostis  Canadensis 
coarctata 
arenaria 
Carex  stricta 
Cynosurus  cristatus 
Centrosema 

Ceratochloa  unioloides 
Cichorium  intybus 

endivum 
Cladium  eflu.su m 
Clitoria 
Coix  lacryma 
Crotalaria 
Cyiiodoi>  dactylon 

linearis 
Cenchrus  tribuloides 

echinatua 
Cyperus  repens 

esculent'us 
Dactylis  s^lomerata 
Dactyloctenlum  Egyptiacum 
Danthonia  spicata 

sericea 
Desm  odium 
Dolichos  lablab 

Chinensis     var. 
melanoplitlialmns 
multiflorus 
Soja 
Eatonia  Pennsylvanica 

obtusata 
Eleusine  Indica 
Elymus  Virginicus 
striatus 
Canadensis 
arenarius 


69 


7:' 
79 

7, 

79 

80 
24 
29 

51 
126 

65 
67 
67 


67 

.-,1 
39 
39 
39 
32 
hi 
16 
65 
20 
21 

16 

126 

' 

i' 

41 
110 
110 

30 

-.' 

58 

1" 


^ 

Eriamhus  alopecuroides 
contorfus 
brevibarbis 
strictus 

Euchloena  luxurians 
Fagopyrum 
Festuca  pratensis 
elatior 
ciuriuscula 
rubra 
ovina 
tenella 
myurus 
loliacea 
nutans 
unioloides 
Galactia 
Qlyceria  nervata 
pallida 
fluitans 
rigida 
Canadensis 
Glycine  hispida 
Gyrnnostichum  hystrix 
Helianthus  annuus 

tuberosus 
Hierochloa  Seneca 

alpina 
Holcus  lanatus 

moll  is 

Hordeum  pratense 
pusillum 
jubatum 
vulgarevar.hex- 
astichum,  dis- 

ticliuin 
Ipomea  batatus 
Lathyrus  venosus 
myrtifolius 
odoratns 
latifolius 
Leers  iajoryzoides 
Virgiiiica 
hexandra 
lenticularis 
Lens 

Leptochloa  mucronata 
Lespedeza  repens 
violacea 


78 
12 
16 

16 
16 

1!; 
5! 
53 

IT 

74 

71 

77 
1  • 


•M  nata 
i  >i  color 

Lolium  perenne 
Italicum 
annuum 
arvense 
tumuleutum 
multifiorum 
Luplnus 

Manisurus  granularis 
Medicago  sativa 
lupuiina 
maculata 
denticulata 
scutellata 
Melica  mutica 
cllffusa 


PAGE. 

58 


59 

59 

59 

59 

59 

59 

59 

114 

114 

114 

U4 

123 


63 

64 

65 

65 

65 

65 

65 

65 

65 

65 

16 

52 

52 

53 

53 

53 

19 

75 

20 

20 

83 

83 

81 

83 

71 

71 

71 


72 
24 
9 
9 
9 
9 

32 
33 
33 
33 
10 
49 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 
12 

75 

76 

77 

77 

77 

78 

1 

110 

3 

3 

4 

4 

52 
52 


142 


IKDKX. 


Muhl  ciibcrgia 
Me]  ilotus  officiiialis 

alba 

Milium  effusum 
Muhlenbergia  diffusa 

Mexicana 
Onobrychis  saliva 
Oplismenus 
Oryza  sativa 
Panicum  sanguinale 

virgatum 

filiform  e 

aiiceps 

amarum 

capillare 

divergens 

veruccosum 

latifolium 

clandestinum 

pauci  flora  m 

viseidum 

dichotomum 

glabrum 

obtusum 

Texaiium 

proliferum 

agrostoides 

Crus-Gaili 

jumentorum 

iniliaceuiii 

gibbum 

divaricatum 
Paspalum  Iceve 

praecox 

racemulosum 

ciliatilblium 

distielmm 

digitaria 

vaginatum 

Walter! 

fiuitans 

undulatum 
Penicillaria  spicata 
Petaiostemon 
Phalaris  intermedia 

var.  augusta 

arundinacea 

Canariensis 
Phasaolus  perennis 

diversifolitas 

helvolus 

sinuatus 

vulgaris 

naiius 

lunatus 

muitiflorus 

caracalla 
Phleuni  pra tense 
Phragmites  communis 
Pisum  sativvini 
Plantago  major 

lanceolata 
Poa  pratensis 

compressa 

annua 

cristata 

flexuosa 

trivahs 

nemoraiis 

brevifolia 

alsodes 

debilis 


52 

sylvestris 

57 

6 

serotiiia 

57 

5 

Psoralea 

9 

84 

Richardsonia  seabra 

14 

38 

Rottboelia  rngosa 

iio 

39 

corrugata 

HO 

8 

cylindrica 

iln 

97 

Secale  cereale 

70 

34 

Setaria  Italica,  or  Ger- 

88 

manica 

1(»5 

90 

setosa 

I  OS 

91 

verticillnta 

1(18 

91 

glauca 

108 

91 

viridis 

108 

91 

corrugata 

loj 

92 

composita 

!(.« 

92 

Sinanis 

126 

92 

92 

Soja  hispicla 
Solanum  tuberosum 

19 

•29 

92 

Sorghum  vulgare 

114,  115  ,  ll(i 

92 

avenaceum 

114 

92 

nutans 

H4,  117 

92 

secuiidum 

114 

92 

cernuum 

115,  115,  ii«{ 

93 

saccharatum 

115,  H« 

93 

iiij^riim 

116 

95 

halapeiise 

US,  H8 

97 
98 
100 

S  partin  a'lpoly  stach  y  a 
Sporobolus  Indicus 
Stenotaphrura    Ameri- 

40 
37 

103                     canura 

110 

]03 

Stylosanthes 

10 

86 

Symphitum  a  s  p  e  r  r  i- 

87 

mum 

21 

87 

Tillandsia  usncoides 

3d 

87 

Tricuspis  sesleroides 

58 

87 

Tritblium  pratense 

5 

87 

arvense 

7 

87 

reflexum 

7 

88 

re  pens 

7 

88 
88 

procumbens 
agrarium 

8 
8 

109 

Caroliniana 

8 

8 

stoloniferum 

8 

medium 

8 

84 

incarnatum 

8 

85 

erectum 

8 

86 
16 
16 

hybridum 
Tripsacum   dactyloides 
Trisetum  prlustre 

8 
112 

78 

16 

molle 

79 

16 
16 

pubesceus 
Triticum  vulgare 

79 
70 

16 

repeus 

70 

16 

caninum 

70 

16 
16 

compositum 
.Uniola  latil'olia 

70 
68 

35 
68 
9 

paniculata 
gracilis 
nitida 

;      68 

68 
68 

21 

Urtica  nivea 

29 

21 

Viehia  sativa 

9 

53 

fab  a 

9 

53,  55 

Americana 

10 

55 

Caroliniana 

10 

55 

acutifolia 

10 

55 

micrantha 

10 

56 

hirsuta 

10 

56 
56 
56 
56 

Zea  Mays 
Zizania  aquatica 
miliacea 

124 
33 
33 

INDEX. 


143 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


African  cane,  IK 

Alabama  guinea  grass,  11< 

Alcandia,  11" 
Alfalfa, 

Alpine  holy  grass, 
American  canary  grass, 

Annual  rye  grass  7 

Artichoke,  Jerusalem  2( 

Barley  grass,  wild  7" 

squirrel-tail  7] 

common  72 

Barn-yard  grass,  97 

Beach  grass,  3£ 
Bean,  Windsor 
horse 

kidney,  common  16 

string,  pole,  snap  16 

dwarf,  or  field  16 

Sieva,  Lima,  butter  16 
scarlet  runner.  Spanish  16 


snail-flowered 
Egyptian  or  black 
China 
black-eyed 
many-flowered 
Beard  grass,  Virginia 

cluster  flowered 
finger  spiked 
silver 

purple  wood 
Beet, 

Bengal  grass, 
Besom  grass, 
Beehive  medick, 
Beggar  lice, 
Bellfoiintain, 
Black  moss, 
Blue  grass,  Ky. 
true 

Blue  joint  grass, 
Bokhara  clover, 
Borage  family, 
Borden's,  or  Burden's 
Bottle  brush  grass, 
Bottle  grass, 
Brazilian  clover, 
Bristle  grass, 


53, 


grass 


16 
16 
16 
16 
16 
109 
112 
112 
112 
112 
126 
105 
111 
4 
12 
14 
30 
53 
55 
39 
5 

21 

40 

75 

108 

2 

108 


Broccoli,  126 
Broom  grass,            65,  110,  112 

California  67 

smooth  67 

soft  67 

fringed  67 

Buckwheat  family,  30 

Buckwheat,  30 

Buflalo  grass,  50 

Bur  grass,  110 
Bush  clover,  creeping   "          10 

purple  10 

downy  10 

hairy  10 

headed  10 

Japan  10 

Cabbage,  126 

Cale  or  kale,  126 

California  timothy,  84 
Canary  grass,  American           84 
Steward's          84 

reed  85 

common  85 

ane,  large  70 
small,  switch           70,  103 

Carpet  grass,  37,  86 

Catch -fly  grass,  33 

Cat-tail  millet,  109 

Cauliflower,  126 

Cheat,  chess  67 

upright  67 

soft  67 

Chiccory,  20 

Chiendent,  42 

hufa,  31 
lover,  Brazilian 

California,  bur,  yellow  3 

sweet  5 

tree  5 

Bokhara  5 

red  ^   5 

sapling  6,  8 

medium  6 

smaller  6 

rabbit-foot  7 
stone 

buffalo  7 


144 


INDEX. 


running  buffalo 

white  7 

low  hop  8 

yellow  hop  8 

Carolina  8 

zigzag  8 
crimson 

Alsike  8 

prairie  8 

bush,  purple  10 

Japan  10 

.   downy  10 

hairy  10 

headed  10 

Mexican  10 

Spanish  14 

Florida  14 

Cock's- foot  grass,  97 

Cock-spur  grass,  110 

Coco  grass,  31 

Comfrey,  prickly  21 

Common  millet,  100 

Composite  family,  19 

Convolvulus    family,  24 

Corn  beads,  126 

Corn,  Guinea  115,  116 

broom  115 

chocolate,  Doura  115 

chicken  115 

white  Egyptian  116 

Indian   '  124 

Cotton  seed,  126 

Crab  grass,  88 

slender  91 

prolific,  sprouting93 

Creeping  soft  grass,  83 

Crested  dog's-tail  grass,  84 

Crop,  crab  grass  47 

Crow-foot  grass,  47,  48 

Darnel,  many  flowered 

Dennett's  grass,  74 

Dochan,  dukhun,  dura  105,  114 

Dog's-tail  grass,  crested  84 

Dog's-tooth  grass,  41,  47 

Downy  oat  grass,  79 

Downy  persoon,  79 


Dropseed  grass,  38 

Durva,  daub,  doob  grass  41,  42 

Early  wild  oat  grass,  79 

East  Indian  millet,  109 

Eaton's  grass,  59 

Egyptian  grass,  118 

Egyptian  millet,  •          109 

Endive,  '    21 

English  blue  grass,  65 

Ensilage,  making  132 

plants  134 

value  133 

feeding  134 

machines  134 

Esparsette,  ;  8 

Evergreen  grass,  63,  80 

False  rice,  32 

Feather  grass,  49 

Fescue  grass,  62 

meadow  63 

tall  63 

fertile  64 

infertile  64 

hard  64 

red  65 

sheep  65 

small  65 

spiked  65 

darnel  60 

nodding  65 

wild  68 

Fiorin,  faureen  41 

Flat  stalked  meadow  grass,     53 

Floating  fox-tail  grass,  34 

Florida  clover,  14 

Fly  away  grass,  43 

Folle  avoine,  33 

Fowl  meadow  grass,  52,  56 

Kox-tail  grass,  108,  114 

bristly  108 

green  108 

large  108 

wrinkled          108 

French  luzerne  2 

Gilbert's  relief  grass,  84 

Goober,  goora  9 


INDEX. 


145 


Grass  family, 

Grass  nut, 

Grass  seed,  planting 

size,  depth 
time  to  sow 
for  orchard 
not  mixed  t 

Grasses  for  winter  pasture 
per  mane  i 
meadows 
defective  seed 
Great  millet, 
Guatemala  grass, 
Guinea  corn, 
grass, 
Hair  grass, 

wood 
tufted 
Hard  grass, 
Hedge-hog  grass, 
Herd's  grass, 
Holy  grass, 

alpine 

Horse  millet, 
Imphee, 
Index,  systematic 

general 
Indian  corn, 
Indian  dropseed  grass. 
Indian  grass, 
Indian  millet, 
Japan  clover, 
Japan  millet, 
Job's  tears, 
Johnson  grass, 
Joint  grass, 
Jovaree, 
June  grass, 
Lentil,  common 
Lespedeza,  creeping 

two  colored 
Long  moss. 
Lotus  tribe, 
Love  grass, 
Lucerne, 
Lupine, 
Lyme  grass,  Virginia 

slender  hairy 


32 

Canada                  75 

30 

Siberian                  75 

127 

soft                         75 

i           128 

upright,  sea           75 

w         128 

Maize,                                      1  24 

d          129 

Mangelwurtzel,                       126 

tosow!29 

Manna  grass,  nerved               52 

ture     130 

pale                        52 

asture  130 
132 

common,  floating  53 
Manna  grass,                           107 

d          133 

Marsh  grass,                              40 

114 

Marsh  oat  grass,                        78 

123 

Mat  grass,                                  39 

115 

Meadow  grass,  smooth             53 

98 

annual                55 

40 

rough  stalked   56 

78 

wood                  56 

78 

weak                  56 

110 

sylvan                57 

110 

fowl                    57 

35 

creeping             58 

83 

strong  scented  58 

83 

pungent              58 

109 

slender               59 

115,  116 

hair  panicled    59 

141 

comb                  59 

143 

Meadows,                                 132 

124 

Meadow  oat  grass,                    79 

38 

soft  grass,                    81 

117 

spear  grass.                 52 

114,  115 

Means  grass,                            118 

10 

Medick,                                        2 

109 

black                              3 

126 

spotted                           3 

118 

beehive                          4 

87 

snail                                4 

114 

M'elic  grass,                               52 

53 

Melilot,  white                             5 

10 

Mesket,  meskit                         51 

10 

Meslin,                                       71 

12 

Mesquit,                               50,  51 

30 

hairy                          51 

1 

Mexican  clover,                         14 

59 

Milfoil,                                      20 

2 

Milk  ^etch,  Carolina                 9 

1 

Tennessee              9 

74 

Millet,  common,  cultivated     98 

7        74 

Thaer's  culture           101 

146 


INDEX. 


German,  or  Italian  105 
Hungarian,  golden  105 
Indian,  great  114 
Polish  107 
Texas  108 
Pearl,  east  Indian  "J 
Egyptian,  Japan     >  109 
horse,  cat- tail         J 
Millets,  the  '103 
Dictionaries,  encyclo- 
pedias 104 
Bible  and  Pliny  on  104 
Millet  grass,  wild  83 
Moha  de  Hongrie  107 
Molse,  114 
Munro  grass, 

Mustard,  126 
Nagara,  114 
Nettle  family,  29 
Nightshade  family,  29 
Nimble  Will  grass,  38 
Nut  grass,  31 
Oat,  common  79 
red  rust  proof  79 
potato  79 
water  33 
Oat  grass,  wild  78 
taller  wild  78 
marsh  78 
common  79 
downy  79 
yellow  79 
.  purple  wild  79 
early  wild  79 
tall  meadow         79,  80 
Old  fog  grass,  78 
Old  witch  grass,  91 
Orchard  grass,  59 
Panic  grass,  tall  smooth  90 
double-head,  va- 
riable 91 
bitter  91 
hair  stalked  91 
autumn  92 
warty  92 
broad  leaved  92 
hidden  flowered    92 
few  flowered  92 


tfticky  92 

polymorphous  92 

smooth  92 

obtuse  flowered  92 
prolific,  sprouting93 

Texas  93 

agrostis-like  95 

Paspalum,    smooth  erect  87 

early  87 

stemmed  87 

hairy  slender  87 

twin,  joint  87 

finger  shaped  87 

sheathed  87 

Waiter's  88 

floating  88 
purple 

Pea,  common,  English  garden  9 

sweet,  everlasting  9 

milk  16 

butterfly  16 

spurred  butterfly  16 

southern  field  16 

whipporwill  17 

red  ripper  17 

black  17 

cow  1 7 

Japan  southern  relief  19 

Pearl  millet,  109 

Pea,  nut,  ground 

Pencil  flower, 

Persoon,  downy  white 

Pigeon  weed,  14 

Finder,  9 

Pineapple  family  30 

Plantain  family  21 

greater  2 1 

buckhorn,  English  21 

Plume  grass  114 

Poison  rye  grass,  77 

Polish  millet,  107 

Poor  Joe,  14 

Potato,  Irish  29 

sweet 

vine  hay  25 

culture  25 
varieties         25, 26 

soil  for  26 


INDEX. 


147 


harvesting  26 
time  to  harvest  27 
seed,  planting  27 
product,  saving  28 

Preface,  iii 

Prolific  crab  grass, 
rice 

Pulse  family,  1 

Pungent  meadow  grass, 

Purple  wild  oat, 
.  wood  grass, 

Quack,  quitch  grass  70. 

Randall  grass,  63 

Rattle  box,  1 

snake  grass,  53 

Red  top  grass,  40 

tall  58 

Reed  canary  grass,  85 

grass,  common  68 

sea  sand  39 

Rescue  grass,  65 

Ribbon  grass f  85 

Rib  grass  21 

Rice,  34 

false 

wild  Indian 

prolific  33 
Oregon,    Pampas,   high- 
land 115 
Rye,  70 
wild  74 
grass,  English  75 
perennial  75 
Italian  76 
annual  77 
poison  77 
many  flowered  78 
Sagina,  114 
Sainfoin,  8 
Salem  grass,  81 
Sweet  scented  vernal  grass,    83 
Switch  grass,  90 
Saw  grass,  32 
Scutch  grass,       '  41 
Sesame  grass,  112 
Seneca  grass, 

Shining  eragrostis,  59 
Silo,                                        132-3 

Small  cane,  103 

Smut  grass,  •  37 

Snail  medick,  4 


Soft  grass,  woolly  81 

meadow  81 

creeping  83 
Sorgho, 

Sorghum,  oat  like  114 

nodding  .    114 

sweet  115 

goose  neck  117 

Sorgsamur,  114 

Southern  bent  grass,  40 

field  pea,  16 

relief  pea  19 

Spanish  clover,  14 

moss,  30 

trefoil, 

Spear  grass,  53 
southern  55,  59 
branching  58 
short  leaved  "   56 
wood  56 
sylvan  57 
Spiked  grass,  broad  leaved    68 
slender  68 
shining  68 
Sprouting  crab  grass, 
Stewart's  canary  grass, 
Strong  scented  meadow  grass  58 
Succory,  wild  20 
garden  21 
Sugar    cane,    African,  Chi- 
nese 115-6 
black  116 
Sun  flower,  20 
Table  of  grasses  compared,     61 
of  forage  plants,  136,  140 
Tall  meadow  oat  grass,  80 
oat  grass,  '  80 
Taller  wild  oat  grass,  78 
Tall  red  top  grass,  58 
Tare,  9 
Teosinte, 

Terrell  grass,  74 
Texas  crab  grass, 

81 


velvet  mesquit, 

millet, 
Tickle  grass, 
Tickseed, 
Timothy  grass, 
Trefoil,  Spanish 

tick,  tribe 
Tree  clover, 
Tufted  hair  grass, 


108 
40 
12 
35 

2 
10 

5 

78 


148 


INNEX. 


Turnips,  126 

Tussock  grass,  32 

Twitch  grass,  70 

Vanilla  grass.  81 

Velvet  grass,  European  81 

lawn,  mesquit     83 

Vernal  grass,  sweet  82 

Vetch,  common  9 

tribe  9 

American  10 

acute  leaved  10 

Carolina  10 

hairy  10 

small  flowered  10 

Vetchling,  9 

Virginia  beard  grass,  110 

cut  grass,  33 

Water  grass,  86 

oats,  33 

pursly,  14 

Way  bread,  21 

Wheat,  70 


Egyptian  70 

Chinese,  ivory  115 

Wheat  grass,  bearded  70 

White  grass,  32 
small  flowered     33 

White  melilot,  5 

timothy,  81 

top  irrass,  40,  78 

Wild  millet  grass,  84 

oat  grass,  78 

rice,  33 

rye,  74 

Wire  grass,              38,  41,  47.  55 

Wood  grass,  117 

purple  112 

Wood  hair  grass,  78 

Woolly  bearded  grass,  114 

soft  grass,  81 

Yard  grass,  47 

Yarrow,  20 

Yellow  oat  grass,  79 


Yorkshire  white  grass. 


81 


THOS.  ATKINSON,  President.  J.  T.  McMAHAN,  Sect'j'. 

—  Co-operatife  Commission  to.  — 

On  the  Rochdale  Plan,  under  the  name  and  style  of  the 

SOUTH-WESTERN    CO-OPERA- 
TIVE ASSOCIATION, 

f  BE  III  SAL!  OF 
COTTON,  SUGAR,  TOBACCO 

AND 

All  Products  of  the  Soil,  and  the  Purchase  of  Supplies, 

(The  usual  Commission  2%  per  cent,  charged.) 

PRINCIPAL  BRANCH  OFFICE,  NEW    ORLEANS,  LA. 
Address  THOS.  J.  CARVER,  Gen'l  Manager. 

60  CAEONDEKET  STREET. 

"  SOUTHERN  LIVE-STOCK  JOURNAL. 

STARKVILLE,     MISSISSIPPI. 

in  its    ^ixth    "Voln.ino. 


An  8  page  Paper  and  the  Best  Authority  upon  All  Subjects 
pertaining  to  Grass  and  Clover  Culture  in  the  South,  and  of  all 
the  various  Breeds  of  Live  Stock, 

SUBSCRIPTION:     -    -     $2  PER  ANNUM,  IN  ADVANCE. 

Specimen  Copies  Free. 


BY 

E.  E>  S PINKS,  Surgeon  Dentist 

Keeps  a  selected  stock  of  Dentist's  goods  constantly  on  hand, 
such  as  are  us  ad  and  needed  by  the  profession  every  day.  Teeth, 
Gold,  Amalgams,  Forceps,  Tooth  powders,  Mouth  wash  and 
every  thing  used  by  the  profession. 


' 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


